Tubes for Solar Panels Not Covered by AD/CVD on Steel Pipe From China, Scope Ruling Says
Fifteen models of torque tubes imported by NEXTracker aren't covered by antidumping and countervailing duty orders on circular welded carbon quality steel pipe from China, the Commerce Department said in a Jan. 8 scope ruling.
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The scope ruling covers 15 China-produced torque tubes used in solar panel tracking systems; the tubes allow the panels to track the sun’s movement throughout the day.
Based on the products’ physical characteristics alone, they would be covered by AD/CVD orders on Chinese carbon quality steel pipe, Commerce said.
However, pipes used for mechanical purposes fell into an exception carved out by the orders, it said. Evidence showed that the exception applied to NEXTracker’s goods, the department said. For example, the pipes were made-to-order for use in NEXTracker’s solar panels and not advertised for sale anywhere else.
In 2019, Commerce also had found similar products intended for the same purpose as NEXTracker’s pipes weren't covered by the AD/CVD orders, strengthening NEXTracker’s case, the department said.