123% Anti-Dumping Duty imposed by US on Indian Solar Imports
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New Delhi: The United States has reportedly imposed a preliminary anti-dumping duty of 123.04% on solar cells and modules from India, taking the overall tariff burden on these products to over 200%.
According to reports, this measure comes in addition to existing countervailing duties exceeding 125%, with industry sources indicating that the cumulative effect could effectively shut Indian solar modules from the US market.
In a notice issued on April 23, the US Department of Commerce stated that it had identified “critical circumstances” in imports linked to companies such as Mundra Solar Energy, Mundra Solar PV, Kowa, and Premier Energies, the Wire reported .
It was further noted that the suspension of liquidation would apply to shipments entering the US up to 90 days before the order’s publication.
The department was also said to have drawn an “adverse inference” against four firms, alleging non-cooperation and failure to provide the necessary data required to determine duty margins.
Industry representatives suggested that the immediate impact of these duties may be limited, as Indian exporters have increasingly diversified towards markets in Europe and West Asia in recent years. However, trade bodies strongly criticised the decision.
Subrahmanyam Pulipaka, Chief Executive Officer of the National Solar Energy Federation of India was quoted as saying that the findings of the investigation lacked both logic and a sound basis, adding that the organisation is preparing a formal challenge. Similarly, Amit Manohar, Secretary General of the Indian Solar Manufacturers Association indicated that the industry would contest the preliminary ruling during the final determination stage and expressed optimism about a favourable outcome.
The development comes at a time when India and the United States are engaged in negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement, with both sides having recently concluded three days of talks in Washington, their first in-person discussions since October.