US slaps 126% countervailing duty on Indian solar imports
image for illustrative purpose
New Delhi: The US has announced a preliminary countervailing duty of 125.87 per cent on imports of certain Indian solar goods, alleging that these products are unfairly subsidised by New Delhi.
The US has also announced different duties on the imports of ‘Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled into Modules’ from Indonesia and Laos.
“On February 24, 2026, the US Department of Commerce announced its preliminary affirmative determinations in the countervailing duty investigations of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules (solar cells), from India, Indonesia, and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos),” a US order has said.
These duties are over and above the 10 per cent tariffs announced by the Donald Trump administration on all countries from February 24.
According to the order, solar imports from India into the US increased to USD 792.6 million in 2024 from USD 83.86 million in 2022.
“Unless postponed, the final determination in these CVD (countervailing duty) investigations are currently scheduled to be issued on July 6, 2026. Commerce (department) is also conducting concurrent anti-dumping duty investigations of solar cells from India, Indonesia, and Laos,” it said. Countervailing duties help companies to protect them from increase in subsidised imports.
India is taking a series of measures to promote renewable energy production in the country and reduce its import dependence. Solar energy is one of the key components in this. India is the world’s third-largest solar power producer.
According to an official statement, India’s solar manufacturing sector includes key components like solar modules, solar PV cells, ingots and wafers. Producing these within the country supports the domestic economy and reduces dependence on imports.
