India’s transport minister appeals for anti-dumping duties to be ditched

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

India transport minister, Nitin Gadkari, has written a letter to a fellow cabinet minister opposing the proposed anti-dumping duties on US, Chinese and Malaysian solar imports.

At the end of May India’s government published its recommended anti-dumping duties.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

According to The Hindu, Gadkari wrote the letter against anti-dumping duties to his counterpart in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Nirmala Sitharaman.

Sitharaman is also the head of the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs, which has until 22 Aug to decide on the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) recommended duties.

According to The Hindu, Gadkari’s letter says duties would “escalate” solar costs by 100% and domestic manufacturers should instead receive a government subsidy to bolster the struggling industry.

As the duties were published before Modi’s election win, developer Welspun has said the duties are against Modi’s ‘solar vision’.

As part of Modi’s campaign, he advocated solar power to empower people and mitigate corruption, while warning of the economic dangers of relying on imported coal.

Project developer Welspun predicts the anti-dumping measures could force 80% of module manufacturers importing cells to close.

Solar analyst, Bridge to India’s managing director, Tobias Engelmeier, has warned anti-dumping duties will halt India’s solar industry for up to two years.

While developer and manufacturer Tata Power told PV Tech India’s domestic solar manufacturing sector will collapse by the end of the year unless the government adopts the recommended anti-dumping duties.

If the recommended duties are implemented then Chinese firms will be the hardest hit with a US$0.81/W duty.

Thin-film manufacturer First Solar which has dominated the thin film market in India would face US$0.11/W duties. US silicon-based panels could be subject to US$0.48/W duties, and Malaysian manufacturers, US$0.62/W and Taiwanese firms US$0.59/W.

Read Next

June 3, 2025
US independent power producer (IPP) Silicon Ranch has invested US$3 million in autonomous robotics company Swap Robotics.
June 3, 2025
A joint venture featuring global oil major bp will begin construction on a 240MW solar PV project in Azerbaijan.
June 3, 2025
US capital infrastructure investor NextEra Energy Resources has commissioned its first 100MW utility-scale Amite Solar facility in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana.
June 3, 2025
Danish renewables firm European Energy has secured a €145 million (US$158 million) long-term loan to finance a 78.5MW solar park co-located with a 50MW battery storage plant in Anykščiai, Lithuania.
June 3, 2025
The US Department of Energy budget proposal promises to remove funding for solar and wind energy and expand support for nuclear weapons.
Sponsored
June 3, 2025
Tongwei Solar talks innovation, growth, sustainability and future technologies in the global solar PV sector.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
June 17, 2025
Napa, USA
Upcoming Webinars
June 30, 2025
10am PST / 6pm BST
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece