Certain TOPCon Solar Cells, Modules, Panels, Components Thereof, and Products Containing Same; Notice of a Commission Determination Not To Review an Initial Determination Granting the Motion To Intervene of IC Star Solar (USA) LLC D/B/A Imperial Star
Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined not to review an initial determination ("ID") (Order No. 18) of the presiding administrative l...
Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined not to review an initial determination (“ID”) (Order No. 18) of the presiding administrative law judge (“ALJ”) granting a motion to intervene filed by non-party IC Star Solar (USA) LLC d/b/a Imperial Star (“Imperial”).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Edward S. Jou, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205-3316. Copies of non-confidential documents filed in connection with this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at
https://edis.usitc.gov.
For help accessing EDIS, please email
EDIS3Help@usitc.gov.
General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server at
https://www.usitc.gov.
Hearing-impaired persons are advised that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal, telephone (202) 205-1810.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Commission instituted this investigation on March 30, 2026, based on a complaint, as supplemented, filed by First Solar, Inc. (“First Solar”) of Phoenix, Arizona. 91 FR 15632-34 (Mar. 30, 2026). The complaint, as supplemented, alleged violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, based upon the importation into the United States and the sale of certain TOPCon solar cells, modules, panels, components thereof, and products containing same by reason of the infringement of certain claims of U.S. Patent No. 9,130,074.
Id.
at 15632. The complaint, as supplemented, further alleged that an industry in the United States exists or is in the process of being established.
Id.
The Commission's notice of investigation named as respondents AXITEC, LLC of Radnor, Pennsylvania; AXITEC Energy GmbH & Co. KG of Böblingen, Germany; AXITEC SOLAR, LLC of Newark, Delaware; Canadian Solar Inc. of Ontario, Canada; CSI Solar Co., Ltd. of Suzhou, China; Canadian Solar (USA) Inc. of Walnut Creek, California; Canadian Solar Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. of Bo Win, Thailand; Canadian Solar US Module Manufacturing Corporation of Mesquite, Texas; Canadian Solar International Ltd. of Kowloon, Hong Kong; JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd. of Beijing, China; JA Solar USA, Inc. of San Jose, California; JA Solar AZ, LLC of Phoenix, Arizona; JA Solar International, Ltd. of Kowloon, Hong Kong; JA Solar Vietnam Co., Ltd. of Bac Giang, Vietnam; JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. of Jiangxi Province, China; Jinko Solar Co., Ltd. of Jiangxi Province, China; Jinko Solar (Vietnam) Industries Co. Ltd. of Quang Ninh, Vietnam; Jinko Solar Technology Sdn. Bhd. of Pulau Pinang, Malaysia; Zhejiang Jinko Solar Co., Ltd. of Zhejiang Province, China; JinkoSolar (U.S.) Inc. of Campbell, California; JinkoSolar (U.S.) Manufacturing Inc. of Dover, Delaware; JinkoSolar (U.S.) Industries Inc. of Jacksonville, Florida; Mundra Solar PV Limited of Gujarat, India; Mundra Solar Energy Ltd. of Gujarat, India; Adani Green Energy Ltd. of Gujarat, India; Philadelphia Solar LLC of Amman, Jordan; Philadelphia Solar USA Inc. of San Mateo, California; Hanwha Q CELLS USA Inc. of Dalton, Georgia; Hanwha Q CELLS America Inc. of Irvine, California; Hanwha Q CELLS USA Corp. of Irvine, California; Hanwha Solutions Corporation of Seoul, Korea; Jiangsu Runergy New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. of Jiangsu Province, China; Runergy USA Inc. of Pleasanton, California; Runergy Alabama Inc. of Huntsville, Alabama; Runergy USA Trading LLC of Dover, Delaware; Runergy PV Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd. of Rayong, Thailand; Trina Solar Co., Ltd. of Jiangsu Province, China; Trina Solar (U.S.), Inc. of Fremont, California; Trina Solar Energy Development Co., Ltd. of Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam; Changzhou Trina Solar Energy Co., Ltd. of Zhejiang, China; Trina Solar Yiwu Technology Co., Ltd. of Zhejiang; China; Tl Energy, Inc. of Austin, Texas; Tl Gl Dallas Solar Module LLC of Wilmer, Texas; Vietnam Sunergy Joint Stock Company of Bac Giang Province, Vietnam; VSUN Solar USA Inc. of Fremont, California; Toyo Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan; and Toyo Solar Texas, LLC of Humble, Texas.
Id.
at 15633. The Office of Unfair Import Investigations (“OUII”) is also a party in this investigation.
Id.
Respondents BYD America LLC and Tesla, Inc. were added to the investigation by intervention. Order No. 7 (Apr. 27, 2026),
unreviewed by
Comm'n Notice (May 27, 2026), 91 FR 32434-35 (June 1, 2026); Order No. 10 (May 11, 2026),
unreviewed by
Comm'n Notice (June 10, 2026), 91 FR 36000-01 (June 15, 2026). The complaint and notice of investigation were amended to change the name of respondent JA Solar AZ, LLC to American Panel Solutions LLC. Order No. 13 (May 28, 2026),
unreviewed by
Comm'n Notice (June 23, 2026), 91 FR 38455-56 (June 25, 2026). Respondents Mundra Solar Energy Ltd., Adani Green Energy Ltd., Philadelphia Solar USA Inc., and Changzhou Trina Solar Energy Co, Ltd. were terminated from the investigation by withdrawal of the complaint. Order No. 14 (May 28, 2026),
unreviewed by
Comm'n Notice (June 24, 2026); Order No. 17 (June 24, 2026),
unreviewed by
Comm'n Notice (July 24, 2026).
On May 29, 2026, Imperial filed a motion to intervene as a respondent pursuant to Commission Rule 210.19, 19 CFR 210.19. On June 10, 2026, First Solar filed a response that did not oppose the intervention if the procedural schedule was extended. Also
( printed page 48190)
on June 10, 2026, OUII filed a response in support of the motion. On June 24, 2026, the ALJ granted a motion filed by First Solar amending the procedural schedule and extending the target date. Order No. 16 (June 24, 2026),
unreviewed by
Comm'n Notice (July 24, 2026).
On June 25, 2026, the ALJ issued the subject ID (Order No. 18) granting Imperial's motion to intervene. No petitions for review of the ID were filed.
The Commission has determined not to review the subject ID.
The Commission vote for this determination took place on July 27, 2026.
The authority for the Commission's determination is contained in section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1337), and in Part 210 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR part 210).
Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.
91 FR 48189
Web Citation
Suggested Web Citation
Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.
“Certain TOPCon Solar Cells, Modules, Panels, Components Thereof, and Products Containing Same; Notice of a Commission Determination Not To Review an Initial Determination Granting the Motion To Intervene of IC Star Solar (USA) LLC D/B/A Imperial Star,” thefederalregister.org (July 30, 2026), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2026-15426/certain-topcon-solar-cells-modules-panels-components-thereof-and-products-containing-same-notice-of-a-commission-determi.