91 FR 47811 · published 2026-07-29
· Commerce Department, International Trade Administration
Mirrored from the Federal Register (retrieved 2026-08-08) —
the official copy is at federalregister.gov
(their site may ask for human verification).
Based on a request from RNG International, Inc. (RNG), the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) is initiating changed circumstances reviews (CCR) to consider the possible revocation, in part, of the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules (solar cells), from the People's Republic of China, and AD and CVD orders on crystalline silicon photovoltaic products (solar products) from the People's Republic of China (China), with respect to certain off-grid small portable crystalline silicon photovoltaic (CSPV) panels as described below.
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 144 (Wednesday, July 29, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47811-47814]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-15240]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-570-979, C-570-980, A-570-010, C-570-011]
Notice of Initiation of Changed Circumstances Reviews, and
Consideration of Revocation of the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Orders, in Part: Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders on
Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled Into
Modules, From the People's Republic of China; and Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Orders on Certain Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic
Products From the People's Republic of China
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: Based on a request from RNG International, Inc. (RNG), the
U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) is initiating changed
circumstances reviews (CCR) to consider the possible revocation, in
part, of the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders
on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled
into modules (solar cells), from the People's Republic of China, and AD
and CVD orders on crystalline silicon photovoltaic products (solar
products) from the People's Republic of China (China), with respect to
certain off-grid small portable crystalline silicon photovoltaic (CSPV)
panels as described below.
DATES: Applicable July 29, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alex DiCenso, AD/CVD Operations,
Office VII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-0689.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On December 7, 2012, Commerce published the AD and CVD orders on
solar cells from China in the Federal Register.\1\ On February 18,
2015, Commerce published the AD and CVD orders on solar products from
China in the Federal Register.\2\
\1\ See Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not
Assembled into Modules, from the People's Republic of China: Amended
Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, and
Antidumping Duty Order, 77 FR 73018 (December 7, 2012); see also
Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled
into Modules, from the People's Republic of China: Countervailing
Duty Order, 77 FR 73017 (December 7, 2012) (collectively, Solar
Cells Orders).
\2\ See Certain Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Products from
the People's Republic of China: Antidumping Duty Order; and Amended
Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and
Countervailing Duty Order, 80 FR 8592 (February 18, 2015)
(collectively, Solar Products Orders).
On April 23, 2026, RNG, a producer and exporter of subject
merchandise, requested, through CCRs, revocation of the solar cells and
solar products Orders, in part, with respect to certain small off-grid
portable CSPV panels, pursuant to section 751(b)(1) of the Tariff Act
of 1930, as amended (the Act), and 19 CFR 351.216(b).\3\ On May 28,
2026, RNG filed a letter from the American Alliance for Solar
Manufacturing (the Alliance), a U.S. consortium of producers of the
domestic like product and a petitioner in the original underlying
investigations, in which the Alliance stated that it did not oppose the
partial revocation of the solar cells and solar products Orders
proposed by RNG.\4\ T1 Energy Inc., a U.S. producer of domestic like
products, also filed a letter stating that it did not oppose the
partial revocation of the solar cells and solar products Orders
proposed by RNG.\5\
\3\ See RNG's Letter, ``Request for Changed Circumstances
Reviews and Request to Combine Initiation and Preliminary Results,''
dated April 23, 2026 (CCR Request).
\4\ See American Alliance of Solar Manufacturing's Letter,
``Letter of No Opposition to RNG's Changed Circumstances Review
Request,'' dated May 28, 2026 (Alliance's No-Opposition Letter).
\5\ See T1 Energy Inc.'s Letter, ``Letter of No Opposition to
RNG's Changed Circumstances Review Request,'' dated June 3, 2026 (T1
Energy's No-Opposition Letter).
On June 8, 2026, Commerce extended the deadline to initiate by 45
days to July 22, 2026, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.302(b).\6\
\6\ See Memorandum, ``Extension of Deadline for Initiation of
Changed Circumstances Reviews,'' dated June 8, 2026.
Scope of the Solar Cells Orders
The merchandise covered by the Solar Cells Orders is crystalline
silicon photovoltaic cells, and modules, laminates, and panels,
consisting of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not
partially or fully assembled into other products, including, but not
limited to, modules, laminates, panels and building integrated
materials.
These Orders cover crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells of
thickness equal to or greater than 20 micrometers, having a p/n
junction formed by any means, whether or not the cell has undergone
other processing, including, but not limited to, cleaning, etching,
coating, and/or addition of materials (including, but not limited to,
metallization and conductor patterns) to collect and forward the
electricity that is generated by the cell.
Merchandise under consideration may be described at the time of
importation as parts for final finished products that are assembled
after importation, including, but not limited to, modules, laminates,
panels, building-integrated modules, building-integrated panels, or
other finished goods kits. Such parts that otherwise meet the
definition of merchandise under consideration are included in the scope
of these Orders.
Modules, laminates, and panels produced in a third country from
cells produced in China are covered by this Order; however, modules,
laminates, and panels produced in China from cells produced in a third
country are not covered by this Order.
Excluded from the scope of these Orders are thin film photovoltaic
products produced from amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride
(CdTe), or copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS).
Also excluded from the scope of these Orders are crystalline
silicon photovoltaic cells, not exceeding 10,000 mm\2\ in surface area,
that are permanently integrated into a consumer good whose function is
other than power generation and that consumes the electricity generated
by the integrated crystalline silicon photovoltaic cell. Where more
than one cell is permanently integrated into a consumer good, the
surface area for purposes of this exclusion shall be the total combined
surface area of all cells that are integrated into the consumer good.
Additionally, excluded from the scope of these Orders are panels
with surface area from 3,450 mm\2\ to 33,782 mm\2\ with one black wire
and one red wire (each of type 22 AWG or 24 AWG not more than 206 mm in
length when measured from panel extrusion), and not exceeding 2.9
volts, 1.1 amps, and 3.19 watts. For the purposes of this exclusion, no
panel shall contain an internal battery or external computer peripheral
ports.
Also excluded from the scope of these Orders are:
(1) Off grid CSPV panels in rigid form with a glass cover, with the
following characteristics:
(A) a total power output of 100 watts or less per panel;
(B) a maximum surface area of 8,000 cm\2\ per panel;
(C) do not include a built-in inverter;
(D) must include a permanently connected wire that terminates in
either an 8mm male barrel connector, or a two-port rectangular
connector with two pins in square housings of different colors;
(E) must include visible parallel grid collector metallic wire
lines every 1-4 millimeters across each solar cell; and
(F) must be in individual retail packaging (for purposes of this
provision, retail packaging typically includes graphics, the product
name, its description and/or features, and foam for transport); and
(2) Off grid CSPV panels without a glass cover, with the following
characteristics:
(A) a total power output of 100 watts or less per panel;
(B) a maximum surface area of 8,000 cm\2\ per panel;
(C) do not include a built-in inverter;
(D) must include visible parallel grid collector metallic wire
lines every 1-4 millimeters across each solar cell; and
(E) each panel is
1. permanently integrated into a consumer good;
2. encased in a laminated material without stitching, or
3. has all of the following characteristics: (i) the panel is
encased in sewn fabric with visible stitching, (ii) includes a mesh
zippered storage pocket, and (iii) includes a permanently attached wire
that terminates in a female USB-A connector.
In addition, the following CSPV panels are excluded from the scope
of these Orders:
(1) Off-grid CSPV panels in rigid form with a glass cover, with
each of the following physical characteristics, whether or not
assembled into a fully completed off-grid hydropanel whose function is
conversion of water vapor into liquid water:
(A) A total power output of no more than 80 watts per panel;
(B) A surface area of less than 5,000 cm\2\ per panel;
(C) Do not include a built-in inverter;
(D) Do not have a frame around the edges of the panel;
(E) Include a clear glass back panel; and
(F) Must include a permanently connected wire that terminates in a
two-port rectangular connector.
Additionally excluded from the scope of these Orders are off-grid
small portable crystalline silicon photovoltaic panels, with or without
a glass cover, with the following characteristics: (1) a total power
output of 200 watts or less per panel; (2) a maximum surface area of
16,000 cm\2\ per panel; (3) no built-in inverter; (4) an integrated
handle or a handle attached to the package for ease of carry; (5) one
or more integrated kickstands for easy installation or angle
adjustment; and (6) a wire of not less than 3 meters either permanently
connected or attached to the package that terminates in an 8mm diameter
male barrel connector.
Also excluded from the scope of these Orders are off-grid
crystalline silicon photovoltaic panels in rigid form with a glass
cover, with each of the following physical characteristics, whether or
not assembled into a fully completed off-grid hydropanel whose function
is conversion of water vapor into liquid water:
(A) A total power output of no more than 180 watts per panel at 155
degrees Celsius;
(B) A surface area of less than 16,000 cm\2\ per panel;
(C) Include a keep-out area of approximately 1,200 cm\2\ around the
edges of the panel that does not contain solar cells;
(D) Do not include a built-in inverter;
(E) Do not have a frame around the edges of the panel;
(F) Include a clear glass back panel;
(G) Must include a permanently connected wire that terminates in a
two-port rounded rectangular, sealed connector;
(H) Include a thermistor installed into the permanently connected
wire before the two-port connector; and
(I) Include exposed positive and negative terminals at opposite
ends of the panel, not enclosed in a junction box.
Also excluded from the scope of these Orders are off-grid CSPV
panels in rigid form, with or without a glass cover, permanently
attached to an aluminum extrusion that is an integral component of an
automation device that controls natural light, whether or not assembled
into a fully completed automation device that controls natural light,
with the following characteristics:
(1) A total power output of 20 watts or less per panel; (2) A
maximum surface area of 1,000 cm\2\ per panel; (3) Does not include a
built-in inverter for powering third party devices.
Also excluded from the scope of these Orders are off-grid CSPV
panels for dedicated powering of a single low-voltage device (60Vdc or
less) that:
(A) Have a glass cover;
(B) Have an aluminum frame around the edges of each panel;
(C) Have a total power output of 140 watts or less per panel;
(D) Are of an elongated rectangular shape such that the long side
is at least 3.5 times the length of the short side;
(E) Have a surface area of less than 8,200 cm\2\ per panel;
(F) Connect to device with 12-16 American Wire Gauge wires between
1200 mm and 1310 mm in length; and
(G) Do not include a built-in inverter.
Merchandise covered by these Orders is currently classified in the
Harmonized Tariff System of the United States (HTSUS) under subheadings
8501.71.0000, 8501.72.1000, 8501.72.2000, 8501.72.3000, 8501.72.9000,
8501.80.1000, 8501.80.2000, 8501.80.3000, 8501.80.9000, 8507.20.8010,
8507.20.8031, 8507.20.8041, 8507.20.8061, 8507.20.8091, 8541.42.0010,
and 8541.43.0010. These HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience
and customs purposes; the written description of the scope of the
Orders are dispositive.
Scope of the Solar Products Orders
The merchandise covered by the Solar Products Orders is modules,
laminates and/or panels consisting of crystalline silicon photovoltaic
cells, whether or not partially or fully assembled into other products,
including building integrated materials. For purposes of these Orders,
subject merchandise includes modules, laminates and/or panels assembled
in China consisting of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells produced
in a customs territory other than China.
Subject merchandise includes modules, laminates and/or panels
assembled in China consisting of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells
of thickness equal to or greater than 20 micrometers, having a p/n
junction formed by any means, whether or not the cell has undergone
other processing, including, but not limited to, cleaning, etching,
coating, and/or addition of addition of materials (including, but not
limited to, metallization and conductor patterns) to collect and
forward the electricity that is generated by the cell.
Excluded from the scope of these Orders are thin film photovoltaic
products produced from amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride
(CdTe), or copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS).
Also excluded from the scope of these Orders are modules, laminates
and/or panels assembled in China, consisting of crystalline silicon
photovoltaic cells, not exceeding 10,000 mm\2\ in surface
area, that are permanently integrated into a consumer good whose
function is other than power generation and that consumes the
electricity generated by the integrated crystalline silicon
photovoltaic cells. Where more than one module, laminate and/or panel
is permanently integrated into a consumer good, the surface area for
purposes of this exclusion shall be the total combined surface area of
all modules, laminates and/or panels that are integrated into the
consumer good.
Further, also excluded from the scope of these Orders are any
products covered by the existing antidumping and countervailing duty
orders on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not
assembled into modules, laminates and/or panels, from China.
Additionally, excluded from the scope of these Orders are solar
panels that are: (1) less than 300,000 mm\2\ in surface area; (2) less
than 27.1 watts in power; (3) coated across their entire surface with a
polyurethane doming resin; and (4) joined to a battery charging and
maintaining unit (which is an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) box
that incorporates a light emitting diode (LED)) by coated wires that
include a connector to permit the incorporation of an extension cable.
The battery charging and maintaining unit utilizes high-frequency
triangular pulse waveforms designed to maintain and extend the life of
batteries through the reduction of lead sulfate crystals. The above-
described battery charging and maintaining unit is currently available
under the registered trademark ``SolarPulse.''
Also excluded from the scope of these Orders are off-grid
crystalline silicon photovoltaic panels without a glass cover with the
following characteristics: (1) total power output of 500 watts or less
per panel; (2) maximum surface area of 8,000 cm\2\ per panel; (3) unit
does not include a built-in inverter; (4) unit has visible parallel
grid collector metallic wire lines every 2-40 millimeters across each
solar panel (depending on model); (5) solar cells are encased in
laminated frosted PET material without stitching; \7\ (6) the panel is
encased in polyester fabric with visible stitching which includes a
Velcro-type storage pocket and unit closure, or encased within a
Neoprene clamshell (depending on model); and (7) includes LED
indicator.
\7\ Although the polyester material has stitching on the
perimeter of the unit, the cells are not stitched into the PET
material.
Additionally excluded from the scope of these Orders are off-grid
small portable crystalline silicon photovoltaic panels, with or without
a glass cover, with the following characteristics: (1) a total power
output of 200 watts or less per panel; (2) a maximum surface area of
16,000 cm\2\ per panel; (3) no built-in inverter; (4) an integrated
handle or a handle attached to the package for ease of carry; (5) one
or more integrated kickstands for easy installation or angle
adjustment; and (6) a wire of not less than 3 meters either permanently
connected or attached to the package that terminates in an 8 mm
diameter male barrel connector.
Also excluded from the scope of these Orders are off-grid CSPV
panels in rigid form, with or without a glass cover, permanently
attached to an aluminum extrusion that is an integral component of an
automation device that controls natural light, whether or not assembled
into a fully completed automation device that controls natural light,
with the following characteristics: (1) a total power output of 20
watts or less per panel; (2) a maximum surface area of 1,000 cm\2\ per
panel; (3) does not include a built-in inverter for powering third
party devices.
Merchandise covered by these Orders is currently classified in the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under
subheadings 8501.61.0000, 8507.20.8030, 8507.20.8040, 8507.20.8060,
8507.20.8090, 8541.40.6015, 8541.40.6020, 8541.40.6030, 8541.40.6035,
and 8501.31.8000. These HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience
and customs purposes; the written description of the scope of the
Orders is dispositive.
Proposed Partial Revocation of the Orders
The products subject to the proposed revocation are off-grid small
crystalline silicon photovoltaic panels, with or without a glass cover,
with the following characteristics:
(A) A total power output of 200 watts or less per panel;
(B) A maximum surface area of 16,000 cm\2\ per panel;
(C) A wire either permanently connected or attached to the package
terminates in waterproof connector with a cylindrical positive
electrode and a rectangular negative electrode with the positive and
negative electrodes having an interlocking structure;
(D) Do not include a built-in inverter; and
(E) Must be in individual retail packaging (for purposes of this
provision, retail packaging typically includes graphics, the product
name, its description and/or features).
Initiation of CCRs and Consideration of Revocation of the Orders, in
Part
Pursuant to section 751(b)(1) of the Act, when Commerce receives
information concerning, or a request from an interested party \8\ I for
a review of affirmative final determinations by Commerce and the U.S.
International Trade Commission that resulted in an AD or CVD order,
which shows changed circumstances sufficient to warrant a review of an
order, Commerce shall conduct a changed circumstances review of the
order.\9\ In accordance with 19 CFR 351.216(d), Commerce determines
that the information submitted by RNG and the letters of no opposition
to partial revocation of each of the Orders with respect to the
products described by RNG constitute a sufficient basis to conduct CCRs
of the Orders.\10\
\8\ RNG stated in its CCR Request that it is an U.S. importer of
solar panels. As such, RNG is an interested party pursuant to
section 771(9)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.102(b)(29)(ii).
\9\ See 19 CFR 351.216(d).
\10\ See Alliance's No-Opposition Letter, and T1 Energy's No-
Opposition Letter.
Section 782(h)(2) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.222(g)(1)(i) provide
that Commerce may revoke an order (in whole or in part) if it
determines that producers accounting for substantially all of the
production of the domestic like product have expressed a lack of
interest in the order, in whole or in part. In its administrative
practice, Commerce has interpreted ``substantially all'' to mean
producers accounting for at least 85 percent of the total U.S.
production of the domestic like product covered by the order.\11\ A
consortium of U.S. producers, the Alliance, and one domestic producer,
T1 Energy, stated that they do not object to the partial revocation of
the Orders proposed by RNG.\12\ However, because neither the Alliance
nor T1 indicated whether they account for substantially all of the U.S.
production of the domestic like product covered by the Orders, we are
not combining this notice of initiation with an expedited preliminary
determination, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.221(c)(3)(ii).\13\ Rather,
Commerce
will provide interested parties with an opportunity to address the
issue of domestic industry support with respect to the partial
revocation of the Orders, as explained below. After examining comments
and other factual information, if any, concerning domestic industry
support, we will issue the preliminary results of these CCRs.
\11\ See, e.g., Certain Cased Pencils from the People's Republic
of China: Initiation and Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty
Changed Circumstances Review, and Intent To Revoke Order in Part, 77
FR 42276 (July 18, 2012), unchanged in Certain Cased Pencils from
the People's Republic of China: Final Results of Antidumping Duty
Changed Circumstances Review, and Determination To Revoke Order, in
Part, 77 FR 53176 (August 31, 2012).
\12\ See Alliance's No-Opposition Letter, and T1 Energy's No-
Opposition Letter.
\13\ In the event that Commerce determines an expedited action
is warranted, 19 CFR 351.221(c)(3)(ii) permits Commerce to combine
the notices of initiation and preliminary results.
Request for Public Input
Interested parties are invited to provide comments and factual
information concerning the requested partial revocation of these
Orders, including comments on industry support and the proposed partial
revocation language. Comments and factual information may be submitted
to Commerce no later than 14 days after the date of publication of this
notice in the Federal Register. Rebuttal comments and rebuttal factual
information may be filed with Commerce no later than seven days after
the comments or factual information are filed.\14\
\14\ Submissions of rebuttal factual information must comply
with 19 CFR 351.301(b)(2).
All submissions must be filed electronically using Enforcement
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service
System (ACCESS).\15\ Each submission must be filed on all of the
records for each of the four proceedings subject to these CCRs. An
electronically filed document must be received successfully in its
entirety by ACCESS, by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the due dates set forth
in this notice.
\15\ See, generally, 19 CFR 351.303.
Preliminary and Final Results of Changed Circumstances Reviews
Commerce intends to publish in the Federal Register a notice of the
preliminary results of these CCRs in accordance with 19 CFR
351.221(b)(4) and (c)(3)(i). Commerce will set forth its preliminary
factual and legal conclusions in that notice. Pursuant to 19 CFR
351.221(b)(4)(ii), interested parties will have an opportunity to
comment on the preliminary results. Unless extended, Commerce will
issue the final results of these CCRs in accordance with the time
limits set forth in 19 CFR 351.216(e).
Notification to Interested Parties
This initiation notice is published in accordance with section
751(b)(1) of the Act, 19 CFR 351.216(b) and 19 CFR 351.222.
Dated: July 22, 2026.
Scot Fullerton,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing
Duty Operations.
[FR Doc. 2026-15240 Filed 7-28-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
Public-domain US Government work, mirrored verbatim by the Trimtab US Trade Ledger for citation stability. All tariff paper →