India extends safeguard duty on solar imports till 2021

The government announced a 14.9% duty up until 29 January.

The Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has issued a notification that will extend safeguard duty on the import of solar cells and modules to India for another year starting 30 July, Mercom India reported.

The ministry announced a duty of 14.9% until 29 January 2021, and 14.50% up until 29 July 2021, for all solar cells and modules imported from China, Thailand, and Vietnam. The safeguard duty will apply to solar cells whether or not assembled in modules or panels.

This came on the heels of the Director-General of Trade Remedies’ (DGTR) recommendation for the extension. The 25% safeguard duty, announced on 30 July 2018, was imposed on solar cell and module imports from China and Malaysia, aiming to protect domestic cell and module manufacturers.