US investigates India's Waaree Energies over possible solar tariff evasion

Customs officials in the United States said that they are investigating whether Indian company Waaree Energies is avoiding U.S. tariffs by labeling Chinese-made solar cells and panels as being made in India.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection disclosed the probe in an email to Waaree and to the American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee. This coalition of domestic manufacturers had requested the investigation through letters sent to the agency in early this year.

In the memo, it was stated that there were reasonable suspicions that Waaree failed to properly label some of its import products as being subject to the antidumping and countervailing duty the United States imposes on solar panels and cells made in China.

It said that it would take steps to protect U.S. revenue, including requiring the company to make cash deposits while the investigation was ongoing.

Waaree's attorney did not respond immediately to a comment request. Outside of normal business hours, a spokesperson for the company could not be immediately reached.

The Commerce Department has imposed tariffs against four Southeast Asian countries that had supplied the majority of the country's solar panel supply. Since more than a century, the United States has placed tariffs on Chinese panels.

The American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee applauded this investigation. This committee includes Qcells - a division from Korea's Hanwha Corp. - and First Solar.

In a press release, Tim Brightbill said that the group had used Chinese cells to lower the price of their solar products.

The Alliance also requested earlier this year that the Commerce Department impose antidumping tariffs and countervailing duties on panels and cells imported from India. (Reporting from Nichola Groom, Los Angeles; Dheeraj Kumar, Bengaluru. Editing by Edwina gibbs.)

(source: Reuters)