Commerce Ministry’s DGAD Terminates Anti-Dumping Probe On Solar Cells

The Commerce Ministry's investigation arm DGAD said that it is terminating anti-dumping probe on imports of Solar cells from China, Taiwan, and Malaysia, reports from PTI.

DGAD decided to terminate the present probe after the Indian Solar Manufacturers Association has made a request to do so.

The probe was initiated by the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) on July 21, 2017, following complaints of dumping of the product by the association.

"The authority is constrained to terminate the present anti-dumping investigation concerning imports 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, DGAD said in a notification.

The domestic industry cited certain reasons for its request to terminate the present probe. They stated that post-initiation, the injury being suffered by the domestic producers on account of dumping was aggravated strongly.

The industry also added that the imports of the cells from these countries have substantially increased in the recent period. The period of investigation was from April 2016 to June 2017.

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 Rule 14(a) of the anti-dumping rules do not grant any discretion to the DGAD in the matter of termination of the investigation, once the domestic industry files a written request for termination of the probe.

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