Indian Solar Manufacturers Association filed an application on behalf of the domestic industry concerning the product under investigation (PUC) viz. Solar Cells, whether or not assembled in modules or panels originating in or exported from China PR, Thailand and Vietnam.
This anti-dumping investigation was initiated in 2018. Anti-dumping is basically a request by an any industry to the appropriate government agency requesting an investigation into potential dumping. The Indian Solar Manufacturers Association (ISMA) demanded imposition of safeguard duty on imports of solar cells and modules, saying it would be significant to the solar manufacturing industry. The association wrote to the Commerce ministry favoring the Directorate General of Safeguards (DGS) recommendation of imposition of 70 per cent duty on imports of solar PV cells and modules.
ISMA once again shares its gratitude to the designated authority for having initiated the present proceedings and for having completed various stages of the investigation. ISMA submits that post initiation, the Government of India has introduced a basic customs duty of 25% and 40% on tariff headings 8541.40.11 and 8541.40.12 respectively with effect from April 1st 2022. The said levy covering the entire scope of the product under investigation,has alleviated the price pressure being suffered by the domestic industry due to dumping from the subject countries to a considerable extent, though not fully.
ISMA is always striving to make India self-sufficient in manufacturing solar cells and modules and to make them available to the users at reasonable prices. If antidumping duty is levied over and above the basic customs duty, it may add additional burden on the solar developers. Such additional costs might adversely affect the demand for solar cells or modules in India and accordingly, it may not be in the best interests of the members of ISMA who manufacture solar cells and modules.
In view of the above, ISMA hereby withdraws present Application pursuant to Rule 14 of the AD Rules 1995.
- Rule 14: The designated authority shall, by issue of a public notice, terminate an investigation immediately if-
- It receives a request in writing for doing so from or on behalf of the domestic industry affected, at whose instance the investigation was initiated;
In view of the above factual position and the mandatory language of Rule 14(a), ISMA requested to accept this withdrawal request and terminate the present investigation as early as possible.
