Safeguard Duty On Solar Panels

The 25 per cent safeguard duty on solar panels cells imported from china and malaysia has had both domestic manufacturers of cells and solar energy companies beating their foreheads on the desk.

Safeguard duty on solar panels. 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. Domestic solar manufacturers hail extension of safeguard duty on chinese equipment. The ministry of finance department of revenue levied the duty based on the final recommendations proposed by the directorate general of trade remedies dgtr. The safeguard duty of 25 percent on solar modules and cells will be in force from july 30 2018.

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 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. 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 government has levied safeguard duty of 25 percent on solar imports from china and malaysia.

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. 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. It suggested 25 for the first year 20 for the first six months of the second year and 15 for the remaining six months. 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.

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