The government has extended the safeguard duty on solar cells for one more year till July 2021 to protect domestic manufacturers and discourage cheap imports from countries such as China.

A duty of 14.9 per cent will be levied during the period from July 30, 2020 to January 29, 2021, and then 14.5 per cent from January 30, 2021 to July 29, 2021, the department of revenue in a notification said.

The move followed recommendations by the commerce ministry’s investigation arm — the directorate general of trade remedies (DGTR) — for continued imposition of the duty for one more year.

The duty applies to imports from Thailand and Vietnam too but excludes imports from any other developing country.

The move is the latest in an economic offensive against China with which India had a border clash last month in which about 20 Indian soldiers died.

Union power and renewable energy minister R.K. Singh had recently told stakeholders that the basic customs duty of 15-20 per cent on solar equipment would be imposed in August, which would double in a year’s time.

TV import curbs

The government on Thursday imposed restrictions on the imports of colour television, a move aimed at promoting domestic manufacturing and cutting inbound shipments of non-essential items from countries like China.