Safeguard duty on Chinese solar equipment extended for one more year till July 2021

NEW DELHI: The government has extended the safeguard duty on Chinese solar power equipment by one more year till July 29, 2021 to help boost local manufacturing.

A duty of 14.9% will be levied on such imports for six months from July 30, 2020 to January 28, 2021 while the duty will be slightly lesser at 14.5% in the following six months, an official notification issued on Wednesday said.

Last week, the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) had recommended continuation of the safeguard duty on solar cells and modules.

The country first imposed the duty in 2018 for two years to prevent dumping of Chinese solar equipment in the country, charging 25% in the first year, and 20% in the second.