India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into solar cell imports from China.
The Indian Solar Manufacturers Association (ISMA) signed a petition which claimed that solar imports from China were damaging the local industry. Previous attempts to introduce anti-dumping duties on solar imports to India have failed.
The USA and the European Union have already imposed anti-dumping tariffs on imports from China. Under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, members are allowed to take actions to protect the domestic industry from a sudden increase in imports.
About $3.2 billion worth of solar equipment was imported in India in the fiscal year 2016-17, 36 per cent more than the corresponding period last year. Of this, 88 per cent came from China and apparently caused a 29 per cent drop in module prices in annual terms.