Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled Into Modules From the Lao People's Democratic Republic: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, Preliminary Negative Critical Circumstances Determination, and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration [C-553-004] AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules (solar cells) from the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos). The period of investigation (POI) is January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination. DATES: Applicable February 26, 2026. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shane Subler or Laurel Smalley, AD/CVD Operations, Office VIII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-6241 or (202) 482-3456, respectively. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 703(b) ( printed page 9569) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce published the notice of initiation of this investigation on August 12, 2025. [ 1 ] On September 23, 2025, Commerce postponed the preliminary determination of this investigation. [ 2 ] Due to the lapse in appropriations and Federal Government shutdown, on November 14, 2025, Commerce tolled all deadlines in administrative proceedings by 47 days. [ 3 …