The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has joined with other U.S. business groups to protest what they call discriminatory trade policies by India.
At issue is India's domestic content requirements for clean energy equipment and information technology. Other business organizations voicing their concerns include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers.
A letter sent to President Obama signed by SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch and other business leaders states that India has ‘engaged in a persistent pattern of discrimination designed to benefit India's business community at the expense of American jobs.’
Unhappiness among U.S. clean energy companies with India's trade policies in the sector are nothing new. In February, the U.S. approached the World Trade Organization with complaints about ‘forced localization requirements’ for solar cells and modules used in projects deployed under India's Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, a government-backed solar initiative.
SEIA says the letter sent to Obama warns that India's domestic content requirements are a ‘disturbing trend that may continue and even expand to other products, sectors and countries. Already there are indications that other countries are considering similar measures.’
