The commerce ministry’s investigation arm DGAD said on Saturday that it was terminating its anti-dumping probe into the import of solar cells from China, Taiwan and Malaysia.

The Indian Solar Manufacturers Association has made a request to terminate the present investigation, it added.

The probe was initiated by the directorate general of anti-dumping and allied duties (DGAD) on July 21 last year following complaints of dumping of the product by the association.

“The authority is constrained to terminate the present anti-dumping investigation concerning the import of ‘solar cells whether or not assembled partially or fully in modules or panels or on glass or some other suitable substrates’ from these countries,’ the DGAD said in a notification.

The domestic industry has cited some reasons for its request to terminate the probe. They have stated that post-initiation, the injury being suffered by the domestic producers on account of dumping has aggravated sharply. Besides, the industry has said the imports of the cells from these countries have increased substantially in the recent period.

The directorate, however, noted that “the reason cited by the domestic industry for termination of the petition is devoid of any merit”. But it said anti-dumping rules do not grant any discretion to the DGAD in the matter of termination of an investigation once a domestic industry files a written request for the same.

Anti-dumping duties are levied to provide a level-playing field to local industry by guarding against cheap below-cost imports.

Increasing imports and dumping of goods from China have always been an area of concern for Indian companies. India’s exports to China were only $10.2 billion in 2016-17, while imports aggregated to $61.3 billion.

The DGAD is also probing dumping of several other products such as certain chemicals and steel products from China and other countries.

India is one of the most attractive markets for global producers because of its large middle class population. Anti-dumping duty is permissible under the World Trade Organisation regime.

Source: https://www.telegraphindia.com/business/brake-on-solar-cell-probe-218159

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