The government has imposed safeguard duty on solar cells for one more year till July 2021 to protect domestic manufacturers and discourage cheap imports from countries like China.
The move followed recommendation by the commerce ministry’s investigation arm Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) for continued imposition of the duty for one more year.
In its probe, the DGTR had concluded that after a decline in imports in 2018-19 due to the imposition of safeguard duty on “solar cells whether or not assembled in modules or panels”, imports have increased during April-September 2019 due to reduction in rate of the duty from July 30, 2019.
After considering the findings of the DGTR, the department of revenue in a notification has said that it is imposing “a safeguard duty” on the product.
