The U.S. Department of Commerce on November 29, 2024, announced preliminary affirmative determinations in antidumping duty investigations of crystalline photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules, imported from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The investigations cover named producers in all four countries and were initiated following a petition by The American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee, whose members are First Solar, Inc., Hanwha Q CELLS USA, Inc., and Mission Solar Energy LLC. Commerce is conducting concurrent countervailing duty investigations of the same products from the same countries.
What it means
The preliminary determinations require importers of covered crystalline photovoltaic cells from the four named countries to post cash deposits at the rates assigned to each producer. Rates vary by company and country: Cambodian producers Hounen Solar Inc. Co. Ltd. and Solar Long PV Tech Cambodia Co. each received a 117.12% cash deposit rate, with both rates based on facts available with adverse inferences, meaning Commerce applied unfavorable assumptions after finding those companies did not cooperate fully. In Malaysia, Hanwha Q CELLS Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. received a 0.00% margin, while Jinko Solar Technology Sdn. Bhd. was assigned a 17.84% cash deposit rate; Baojia New Energy Manufacturing Sdn. and CRC Solar Cell Joint Stock Company each received 81.24%, also on adverse inferences. Thai producers Trina Solar Science & Technology (Thailand) Ltd. and Taihua New Energy (Thailand) Co. Ltd. received estimated dumping margins of 77.85% and 154.68% respectively, with no cash deposit rates listed for Thailand. Vietnamese producers were assigned cash deposit rates ranging from 53.19% to 56.40%, with JA Solar Vietnam Co. Ltd. at 53.19%, Jinko Solar (Vietnam) Industries Company Limited at 56.40%, and a cluster of additional Vietnamese companies at 54.35% or 54.46%.
Key facts
- Petitioner: The American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee (First Solar, Inc.; Hanwha Q CELLS USA, Inc.; Mission Solar Energy LLC)
- Cambodia — Hounen Solar Inc. Co. Ltd. and Solar Long PV Tech Cambodia Co.: 125.37% dumping margin; 117.12% cash deposit rate (adverse inferences)
- Malaysia — Hanwha Q CELLS Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.: 0.00% dumping margin; 0.00% cash deposit rate
- Malaysia — Jinko Solar Technology Sdn. Bhd.: 21.31% dumping margin; 17.84% cash deposit rate
- Malaysia — Baojia New Energy Manufacturing Sdn. and CRC Solar Cell Joint Stock Company: 81.24% dumping margin; 81.24% cash deposit rate (adverse inferences)
- Thailand — Trina Solar Science & Technology (Thailand) Ltd.: 77.85% dumping margin; Thailand — Taihua New Energy (Thailand) Co. Ltd.: 154.68% dumping margin (adverse inferences)
- Vietnam — JA Solar Vietnam Co. Ltd.: 53.30% dumping margin; 53.19% cash deposit rate; Jinko Solar (Vietnam) Industries Company Limited: 56.51% dumping margin; 56.40% cash deposit rate
- Vietnam — Blue Moon Vina Co, Boviet Solar Technology Co., Elite Solar Technology, Letsolar Vietnam, Mecen Solar Vina, Nexuns Vietnam, Trina Solar Energy Development, Vietnergy/Tainergy: 54.46% dumping margin; cash deposit rates of 54.35%–54.46%
- Concurrent countervailing duty investigations covering the same four countries are also underway
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce announcement (trade.gov)