Indian manufacturers lobby against US, China solar firms

Indian manufacturers of solar equipement are lobbying in New Delhi against imports from both the U.S. and China, naming parties like First Solar Inc, a U.S. company, and SunTech Power Holdings Co., a large manufacturer from China, Bloomberg reported.

Although Indian solar executives said they are on the "same wavelength" as the U.S. regarding a dumping case filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission in October, they say they cannot fairly compete with Chinese and U.S. imports, which can enter the country tax-free while Indian law requires domestic manufacturers to pay duties on raw materials, according to Bloomberg.

Indian solar manufactures are asking New Dehli to impose a 15 percent customs duty on solar imports entering the country. There are 51 solar module manufacturers in the country that are working at a fifth of their capacity because of a global drop in demand for solar power, reported the Hindu Business Line on Dec. 16.

The newspaper said India is suffering from large manufacturers dumping their excess solar inventories into the country.