India to impose tariff barrier on solar cells, modules, inverters from 1 August

NEW DELHI: In what will make solar cells, modules and inverters imported from China expensive, India is set to impose a basic customs duty as soon as the safeguard duty, currently in place, expires on 29 July, said two people aware of the development.

To impose this 20% tariff barrier on imports of green energy equipment, the ministry of new and renewable energy will soon write to the ministry of commerce and industry.

Also, to ensure that the already bid out projects and the electricity tariffs quoted are not hit, the government plans to ‘grandfather’ such projects and is collating details along with the tentative equipment import date.