Solar Love
  • Rooftop Solar
    • Energy Storage
  • Solar Panels
  • Policy
  • Research
    • Science
    • Market Research
    • Solar Perceptions & Polls

Solar Love

  • Rooftop Solar
    • Energy Storage
  • Solar Panels
  • Policy
  • Research
    • Science
    • Market Research
    • Solar Perceptions & Polls
Solar Policy

India, WTO Members Spar Over Safeguard Duties On Solar Cells

by Saurabh Mahapatra May 10, 2018
written by Saurabh Mahapatra May 10, 2018
India, WTO Members Spar Over Safeguard Duties On Solar Cells

India has received objection from WTO members over another of its decision regarding its solar power policy.

European Union was joined by Japan to criticize India’s decision to impose interim a safeguard duty on imported solar cells. The Indian government, which is still investigating whether to impose a safeguard duty on imported solar cells, had issued an order to impose a preliminary 70% safeguards duty. 

An EPC contractor challenged the order in a court and was awarded a stay for few weeks. That stay has now expired and legal proceedings will likely move forward soon. The government department investigating the matter has yet to produce a final report or order.

The 70% interim duty is not only being opposed by the WTO but the Indian government was also cautioned against such a move by its own Parliament. A committee in the Indian Parliament had warned the government not to impose such a high duty on solar imports as it may lead to a rise in tariffs and a slowdown in capacity addition. There are no signs that the government has heeded that advice.

On the WTO front it is surprising that the proposal to impose a safeguards duty was opposed by the EU and Japan. Neither of these countries have any major solar equipment exports to India. They are, however, a major source of funding to solar projects.

Earlier this year, while announcing a major debt funding agreement with an Indian bank, the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development had also urged Indian not to impose such duties.

China, which supplies nearly 90% of the solar modules and cells used in India, warned the Indian government against levying any anti-dumping duties on solar equipment. The Indian government had recently prematurely ended an anti-dumping investigation at the request of the Indian Solar Manufacturers Association, but a fresh investigation is expected may be launched soon.

Earlier, India lost a major battle at the WTO when in September 2016 it was forced to terminate the Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) program. The program mandated project developers to use Indian-made solar modules. India’s Ministry for New & Renewable Energy was forced to issue a directive to all states not to auction any projects under the DCR program after India lost a legal challenge to objections raised by the United States.

Image courtesy Vikram Solar

IndiaWTO
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterest
Saurabh Mahapatra

A young solar enthusiast from India keeping an eye on all regulatory, policy and market updates from one of the fastest emerging solar power markets in the world.

previous post
SunPower Reports Topsy-Turvy First Quarter Earnings
next post
India’s Largest Solar Cell Manufacturer Charts Aggressive Growth Plan

You may also like

India’s NTPC Offers Solar Project Management Services To...

June 9, 2019

India Plans 20 Gigawatt Solar Tender To Circumvent...

May 16, 2018

California Solar Mandate Bumps Solar Forecast By 14%...

May 14, 2018

Solar Tariff Bids Firm Up In Latest India...

April 23, 2018

India Issues Guidelines To All States Over WTO...

January 29, 2018

Top New York Solar Installers

November 10, 2017

US Trade Commission Finds That Imports Of Cheap...

September 23, 2017

North Carolina Solar Energy (In Depth)

September 20, 2017

California Solar Installers

August 22, 2017

High School Girls Create Solar Powered Tent For...

April 6, 2017

Follow Me

Facebook

Recent Posts

  • Meet PVCase: A 3D Solar Design Software That Every PV Designer Should Consider

    June 12, 2019
  • Mitsui To Partner With Indian Company For Distributed Solar Projects

    June 10, 2019
  • India’s NTPC Offers Solar Project Management Services To ISA Members

    June 9, 2019
  • Equinor & Scatec Solar Complete 162 Megawatt Brazilian Solar Plant

    November 29, 2018
  • Gamesa Awarded 400 Megawatt Solar Project In Egypt

    November 29, 2018
  • Facebook

@2019 - All Right Reserved solarlove.org


Back To Top