Modi, in Davos, Praises Globalization Without Noting India’s Trade Barriers
- 6 years ago
Modi, in Davos, Praises Globalization Without Noting India’s Trade Barriers
At 70 percent, the tariffs that India is considering on imported solar panels would be more than double those
that the Trump administration said on Monday it would impose on such panels.
Mr. Modi’s government is also considering a recommendation by India’s Directorate General of Safeguards, Customs and Central Excise
that the country impose 70 percent tariffs on imported solar panels.
But he said he also worried that if the recommendation for 70 percent tariffs on imported
solar panels were adopted, solar energy could become unaffordable for many Indians.
“Their intention is not only to avoid globalization, but they also want to reverse its natural flow.”
Notably missing from the speech was any mention of recent moves by Mr. Modi’s own government to restrict imports into India
as part of a broad industrial policy meant to force foreign companies to increase manufacturing operations in the country.
Mark Wu, a former trade negotiator for the United States who is now an assistant professor of trade law at Harvard University
and who attended Mr. Modi’s speech, said India faced a challenge in terms of imports: attracting foreign manufacturers without appearing to violate international trade norms.
At 70 percent, the tariffs that India is considering on imported solar panels would be more than double those
that the Trump administration said on Monday it would impose on such panels.
Mr. Modi’s government is also considering a recommendation by India’s Directorate General of Safeguards, Customs and Central Excise
that the country impose 70 percent tariffs on imported solar panels.
But he said he also worried that if the recommendation for 70 percent tariffs on imported
solar panels were adopted, solar energy could become unaffordable for many Indians.
“Their intention is not only to avoid globalization, but they also want to reverse its natural flow.”
Notably missing from the speech was any mention of recent moves by Mr. Modi’s own government to restrict imports into India
as part of a broad industrial policy meant to force foreign companies to increase manufacturing operations in the country.
Mark Wu, a former trade negotiator for the United States who is now an assistant professor of trade law at Harvard University
and who attended Mr. Modi’s speech, said India faced a challenge in terms of imports: attracting foreign manufacturers without appearing to violate international trade norms.