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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 249 (Monday, December 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 106429-106430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-31190]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-980]

Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled 
Into Modules, From the People's Republic of China: Notice of Court 
Decision Not in Harmony with the Results of Countervailing Duty 
Administrative Review; Notice of Amended Final Results

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: On December 18, 2024, the U.S. Court of International Trade 
(CIT) issued its final judgment in Risen Energy Co., Ltd., v. United 
States, Court No. 23-00153, sustaining the U.S. Department of 
Commerce's (Commerce) remand results pertaining to the administrative 
review of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on crystalline silicon 
photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules (solar 
cells), from the People's Republic of China (China) covering the period 
January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Commerce is notifying the 
public that the CIT's final judgment is not in harmony with Commerce's 
final results of the administrative review, and that Commerce is 
amending the final results with respect to the countervailable subsidy 
rate assigned to producer and/or exporter Risen Energy Co., Ltd. 
(Risen).

DATES: Applicable December 28, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lingjun Wang, 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) 482-2316.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On July 11, 2023, Commerce published its Final Results in the 2020 
CVD administrative review of solar cells from China. Commerce found 
that the Government of China failed to cooperate to the best of its 
ability and, as adverse facts available, found that Risen used and 
benefited from the Export Buyer's Credit Program (EBCP).\1\
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    \1\ See Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not 
Assembled into Modules, from the People's Republic of China: Final 
Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2020, 88 FR 
44108 (July 11, 2023) (Final Results), and accompanying Issues and 
Decision Memorandum (IDM).
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    After correcting ministerial errors contained in the Final Results, 
on August 11, 2023, Commerce published the Amended Final Results, where 
we corrected the calculation of the countervailable subsidy rate for 
Risen from 14.27 percent to 18.95 percent.\2\
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    \2\ See Notice of Correction to the Final Results, and Amended 
Final Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2020 
(August 11, 2023) (Amended Final Results).
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    Risen appealed Commerce's Final Results/Amended Final Results to 
the CIT. On August 16, 2024, the CIT remanded the Final Results/Amended 
Final Results to Commerce. The CIT directed Commerce on remand to 
either attempt verification of the non-use certifications to determine 
more accurately what proportion of the sales

[[Page 106430]]

Risen is able to account for, or to remove at least the portion of the 
EBCP rate attributable to the customers demonstrating non-use from the 
calculation of Risen's overall subsidy rate.\3\
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    \3\ See Risen Energy, Co., Ltd., v. United States, 724 F.Supp.3d 
1356 (CIT 2024).
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    In its final Remand Redetermination,\4\ issued in November 2024, 
Commerce found that pro-rating Risen's subsidy rate to account for the 
number of non-use certifications provided by its U.S. customers is 
inconsistent with Commerce's practice and the AFA hierarchy. Commerce 
removed the 5.46 percent EBCP AFA rate from Risen's total 
countervailable subsidy rate.\5\ The CIT sustained Commerce's Remand 
Redetermination.\6\
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    \4\ See Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant to Court 
Remand, Risen Energy Co., Ltd., v. United States Court No. 23-00153, 
Slip Op. 2-94 (CIT August 16, 2024), dated November 13, 2024 (Remand 
Redetermination), available at https://access.trade.gov/public/FinalRemandRedetermination.aspx.
    \5\ Id.
    \6\ See Risen Energy Co., Ltd., v. United States, Slip Op. 24-
144 (CIT 2024).
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Timken Notice

    In its decision in Timken,\7\ as clarified by Diamond Sawblades,\8\ 
the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held that, pursuant to 
section 516A(c) and (e) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the 
Act), Commerce must publish a notice of court decision that is not ``in 
harmony'' with a Commerce determination and must suspend liquidation of 
entries pending a ``conclusive'' court decision. The CIT's December 18, 
2024, judgment constitutes a final decision of the CIT that is not in 
harmony with Commerce's Final Results/Amended Final Results. Thus, this 
notice is published in fulfillment of the publication requirements of 
Timken.
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    \7\ See Timken Co. v. United States, 893 F.2d 337 (Fed. Cir. 
1990) (Timken).
    \8\ See Diamond Sawblades Manufacturers Coalition v. United 
States, 626 F.3d 1374 (Fed. Cir. 2010) (Diamond Sawblades).
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Amended Final Results

    Because there is now a final court judgment, Commerce is amending 
its Final Results and Amended Final Results with respect to producer 
and/or exporter Risen's countervailable subsidy rate for the period of 
January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020, as follows:
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    \9\ This rate applies Risen Energy Co., Ltd. and its cross-owned 
companies: Risen Energy (Luoyang) Co., Ltd.; Risen Energy (Wuhai) 
Co., Ltd.; Risen Energy (Changzhou) Co., Ltd.; Risen Energy (Ningbo) 
Co., Ltd.; Risen Energy (Yiwu) Co., Ltd.; Zhejiang Boxin Investment 
Co., Ltd.; Zhejiang Twinsel Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.; Jiangsu 
Sveck New Material Co., Ltd.; Changzhou Sveck Photovoltaic New 
Material Co., Ltd. (including Changzhou Sveck Photovoltaic New 
Material Co., Ltd. Jintan Danfeng Road Branch); Changzhou Sveck New 
Material Technology Co., Ltd.; Ninghai Risen Energy Power 
Development Co., Ltd.; Risen (Ningbo) Electric Power Development 
Co., Ltd.; Changzhou Jintan Ningsheng Electricity Power Co., Ltd.; 
and Risen (Changzhou) Import and Export Co., Ltd.

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                                                               Subsidy
                                                                 rate
                     Producer/ exporter                      (percent ad
                                                               valorem)
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Risen Energy Co., Ltd.\9\..................................        13.49
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Cash Deposit Requirements

    Because Risen does not have a superseding cash deposit rate, 
Commerce will issue revised cash deposit instructions to U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection (CBP).

Liquidation of Suspended Entries

    At this time, Commerce remains enjoined by the CIT order from 
liquidating entries that: were produced and/or exported by Risen, and 
were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption during the 
period January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. These entries will 
remain enjoined pursuant to the terms of the injunction during the 
pendency of any appeals process.
    In the event the CIT's ruling is not appealed, or, if appealed, 
upheld by a final and conclusive court decision, Commerce intends to 
instruct CBP to assess countervailing duties on unliquidated entries of 
subject merchandise produced and/or exported by Risen in accordance 
with 19 CFR 351.212(b). We will instruct CBP to assess countervailing 
duties on all appropriate entries covered by this review when the ad 
valorem rate is not zero or de minimis. Where an ad valorem subsidy 
rate is zero or de minimis,\10\ we will instruct CBP to liquidate the 
appropriate entries without regard to countervailing duties.
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    \10\ See 19 CFR 351.106(c)(2).
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Notification to Interested Parties

    This notice is issued and published in accordance with sections 
516A(c) and (e) and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: December 20, 2024.
Abdelali Elouaradia,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2024-31190 Filed 12-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
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