Solar panels are seen on the Da Mi hydropower reservoir in the south-central coastal province of Binh Thuan. India has initiated an anti-dumping probe into Vietnam’s solar cells, while the United States has begun another one into local honey - PHOTO: VNA

HCMC – The Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imports of solar cells from Vietnam following an application filed by the Indian Solar Manufacturers’ Association, according to the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The Indian Solar Manufacturers’ Association, representing some Indian enterprises, said the solar cells imported from Vietnam, China and Thailand were being dumped on the Indian market, affecting the domestic industry, the local media reported.

The probe will cover the period starting from July 2019 to December 2020, while the injury period under the probe will be from January 2016 to December 2020.

According to the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the values of solar cells from the three countries surpass net export prices.

The ministry will send a questionnaire to exporters within 30 days from the launch of the investigation. The Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam asked related firms in Vietnam to take the initiative to get the questionnaire and related information and consider hiring lawyers or consulting firms experienced in anti-dumping in India.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has also warned that local enterprises’ obstruction or insufficient cooperation may lead the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry to use the available evidence to impose anti-dumping duties on Vietnam’s solar cells.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade had earlier informed that the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has also begun an anti-dumping investigation into honey imports from Vietnam.

The decision was made 20 days after it received the petition from the American Honey Producers Association and the Sioux Honey Association.

According to the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam, Vietnam’s dumping margin was estimated to range from 47.56% to 138.23%. DOC will look into Vietnam’s honey imports into the United States between October 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021.

The investigation may last for 12 months and can be extended by another six months.

DOC has issued a questionnaire for related enterprises and they have 30 days to answer the questions.

This is the first time local honey has been subject to an anti-dumping probe.

According to the Vietnamese Beekeepers’ Association, Vietnam’s honey will not be exported stateside if the anti-dumping tariff is levied as it cannot compete with the products of other countries.

Vietnam currently has nearly 40,000 beekeepers and hundreds of honey processing, trading and exporting firms. Honey exports stateside annually make up 90% of the country’s total honey exports.

Meanwhile, some 50,700 tons of Vietnam’s honey was shipped to the United States last year, accounting for more than a quarter of U.S. honey imports.