The US Department of Commerce took steps yesterday to head off a surge in imports of polysilicon, wafers, solar cells and solar modules before a minimum import price and 15% tariff take effect on December 4.
It said it will monitor whether individual importers of record are importing substantially greater volumes of solar products than they did in the past. Anyone found stockpiling solar products will be barred from importing any further such products before December 4.
Equipment purchase contracts specify which party will be responsible for import duties and for arranging to have the equipment clear US Customs. The contract may identify the project developer, construction contractor, manufacturer or other supplier as the "importer of record."
New importers of record without historical baselines against which to measure imports will be limited to very small quantities of solar products per week between September 22 and December 4. The limits are 12 kilograms a week of polysilicon, seven kilograms a week of wafers, 2,000 solar cells per week and 55 solar modules per week.
Importers may apply for waivers to exceed the limits. Waiver requests can be submitted by email. Anyone asking for a waiver should explain why the volume of imports entering the US between August 6 and December 4 was "grounded in legitimate commercial considerations."
The department plans to respond to requests within 14 days. The response may be to ask for more information.
Customs brokers who help evade these limits could lose their broker licenses or be subject to penalties.
The Commerce announcement can be found here.
Background about the minimum import prices and tariffs that will apply to polysilicon, wafers, solar cells and solar modules starting on December 4 can be found here.
Commerce may waive the tariffs for manufacturers that submit onshoring plans to "build, refurbish, or expand" factories in the United States to make solar products.