CBP Says Non-China Certification from Importer and Exporter Required for Solar Panel Imports

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a June 13 CSMS message importers of solar panels without Chinese solar cells are required to certify that the panels don't contain Chinese solar cells. CBP said antidumping and countervailing duties are required on imports of solar cells and panels from China, including solar panels produced in a third-country from Chinese solar cells.

Exporter Certification Too

Importers of solar panels exported from China not containing Chinese solar cells are also required to maintain a certification from the exporter, said CBP. The U.S. Department of Commerce has instructed CBP to collect AD/CV duties on the imports of solar panels if the importers don't provide both the importer and exporter certification at the request of CBP.

The certifications shouldn't be provided as part of the entry document package, unless specifically requested by CBP, and CBP may also request additional documentation supporting the certification, it said.

(See ITT’s Online Archives 12032602 for summary of the ITA’s preliminary determination in this case’s companion countervailing duty investigation. See ITT's Online Archives 12051805 announcing preliminary AD Rates of 31% to 250% for China solar cells.

See also ITT’s Online Archives 12051533 for summary of a U.S. solar cell coalition’s statement opposing the imposition of AD/CV duties on Chinese solar cells.)