Chinese solar panels to face quality control barrier

The Centre is looking to restrict the influx of lowquality, cheap solar panels, a major component in the industry that is experiencing a fall in tariffs, from China. The government is designing standards for solar panels which would also help it identify domestic and overseas suppliers. “We are looking at tighter quality control so that we get good quality equipments for our solar programme. There will be a process to maintain tighter standards to maintain efficiency,” said a senior government official.

The government had recently reduced incentives for indigenous solar equipment manufacturers, after the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules mandated not giving preferential treatment to the domestic solar industry. New Delhi has been weighing options after it lost twice at the WTO, following US claims that domestic sourcing in the National Solar Mission is an anti-trade practice.

Among other measures are subsidies for manufacturers and imposing antidumping duty.

"The matter is being discussed," said another government official. "The idea is to match the prices of similar (Chinese) technology and the difference can be imposed as dumping duty on Chinese panels. It is at a very primary level." The Prime Minister's Office is also looking into the matter, said sources.

Anti-dumping cases by Indian solar manufacturers against imports from China have failed twice.