The commerce ministry has terminated an anti-dumping investigation into the import of solar cells from China, Thailand and Vietnam following a request from the Indian SolarManufacturers Association(ISMA).

On May 15, 2021, the ministry’s investigation arm Directorate General of TradeRemedies (DGTR) initiated a probe into the alleged dumping of “solar cells whether or not assembled into modules or panels” exported from the three nations, following a complaint by the solar makers association.

“In view of the request made by the domestic industry, ISMA,...the authority hereby terminates the investigation initiated on May 15, 2021... against the imports of solar cells whether or not assembled into modules or panels exported by these countries,” the DGTR said in a notification.

Anti-dumping rules, 1995provide for the termination of a probe in certain situations which include the withdrawal of the application by the affected domestic industry at whose instance the investigation was initiated.

Post the initiation of the probe, the government levied customs duties of 25 per cent on solar cells and 40 per cent on solar modules with effect from April 1 this year.