The Trump administration is preparing to impose a 15% tariff on polysilicon products alongside minimum import prices, in a move aimed at protecting US manufacturers from growing Chinese influence in the strategic material and semiconductor supply chain.
The measures could be announced as soon as Thursday, according to four people familiar with the matter.
The proclamation by US President Donald Trump is expected to introduce minimum import prices for polysilicon, wafers, solar cells and modules, or solar panels. A 15% tariff would also be imposed on polysilicon derivatives, the sources said.
The hybrid approach, combining tariffs with minimum import prices, was previously reported by Reuters.
The move comes after a year-long national security investigation by the US Commerce Department into polysilicon, a key raw material used in both solar panels and semiconductors.
The policy could have significant implications for the US solar manufacturing industry, which is already adjusting to the Trump administration’s rollback of federal support for renewable energy.
The administration is seeking to strengthen domestic production while countering China’s growing ambitions in the semiconductor supply chain, with polysilicon playing a key role in both the solar and chip industries.
The Commerce Department and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The proposed measures add another layer to Washington’s efforts to reduce dependence on Chinese supply chains and support domestic manufacturing in strategically important industries.
Reuters
