Safeguard Duty On Solar Panels

On monday july 30 the narendra modi government notified a 25 safeguard duty on imported solar panels for a period of two years.

Safeguard duty on solar panels.

The safeguard duty on chinese vietnamese and thai solar cells whether assembled into modules or not applies at 14 9 for the first six months before falling to 14 5. The duty typically imposed during import surges is meant to. The directorate general of trade remedies dgtr had recommended the safeguard duty on solar panels and modules imported from china and malaysia in mid july. The directorate general of trade remedies recommended the imposition of safeguard duty on chinese solar imports for one more year at 14 9 for the first six months from july 30 and 14 5 for the following six months.

Solar power developers are stalling projects to circumvent the two year time frame according to gupta. Domestic solar manufacturers hail extension of safeguard duty on chinese equipment. Last week the directorate general of trade restrictions dgtr recommended that safeguard duty on solar panels and modules imported from china and malaysia should be imposed for two years 25 for the first year 20 for the first six months of the second year and 15 for the remaining six months. The duty was set at 25 for the first year followed by a phased down approach for the second year with the rate reduced by 5 every six months until the duty is set to end after july 2020.

These include antidumping and countervailing duties adcvd on solar imports from various countries including china and taiwan and more recently safeguard duties that were imposed by the president in response to recommendations reported on by the itc. The developers want the duty to be postponed by 18 months as the safeguard duty on solar cell imports has already been extended by a year. The safeguard duty of 25 percent on solar modules and cells will be in force from july 30 2018. It suggested 25 for the first year 20 for the first six months of the second year and 15 for the remaining six months.

For projects auctioned after the imposition of safeguard duty developers are waiting for the duty s two year limit to pass rather than paying more for local solar cells and modules. The safeguard duty on imports of solar cells and modules from china and malaysia was announced in july 2018 to protect domestic cell and module manufacturers.