The Dept. of Commerce has released the names of the mandatory respondents in the AD/CVD circumvention investigation currently happening in the solar industry.

The department, which is looking at solar cell and panel manufacturers in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam that use components from China and whether the companies are circumventing Chinese tariffs in the process, sent out questionnaires in early April looking for export details. Seventy-six questionnaires were issued (Cambodia: 12, Malaysia: 20, Thailand: 18, Vietnam: 26) and two companies from each country will be investigated further. Commerce chose these specific companies due to their high quantity of exports to the United States.

The companies chosen include:

• Cambodia: BYD and New East Solar
• Malaysia: Hanwha Q CELLS and JinkoSolar
• Thailand: Canadian Solar and Trina Solar
• Vietnam: Boviet Solar and Vina Solar Technology (LONGi)

Commerce said that since there are a “large number of exporters or producers” in each of the affected countries, it would “not be practicable to individually examine each of them to determine whether each one is circumventing the Orders. Examining all of these exporters/producers would require significant resources.”

DOC will now do a deep-dive into the manufacturing and exporting processes at these eight companies. The department will look into whether any Chinese wafers, silane, silver paste, solar glass, aluminum frames, junction boxes, EVA sheets and backsheets were used in exported cells and modules, and whether the eight companies have direct relationships with Chinese manufacturers that would allude to attempts at AD/CVD circumvention.

Commerce should present preliminary findings of its investigation on August 30, 2022, along with a preliminary duty rate for all importers of the affected products. A final decision would then be made on January 26, 2023.

Check out our coverage on the tariffs and duties affecting the U.S. solar industry here.