US President Donald Trump has unveiled new trade measures targeting China’s dominance of the solar and semiconductor supply chains, including a 15% tariff on polysilicon and minimum import prices for key solar products.
The White House said the measures are intended to strengthen domestic production of polysilicon and its derivatives, which are critical to both solar panels and semiconductor manufacturing. The new protections will take effect on Dec 4.
Under the measures, polysilicon imports will face a minimum price of US$21 per kilogram, while polysilicon ingots and wafers will have a floor of US$100 per kilogram. Solar cells and modules will face minimum prices of US$0.22 and US$0.38 per watt respectively.
US solar manufacturers welcomed the move, arguing that Chinese competitors have benefited from government subsidies and have shifted production to other countries to avoid existing US tariffs.
The US has two polysilicon factories, including a Michigan facility operated by Hemlock Semiconductor, a joint venture between Corning and Japan’s Shin-Etsu Handotai, while Wacker Chemie operates another plant in Tennessee.
The White House also authorised the Commerce Department to establish incentives for companies investing in US polysilicon and related manufacturing facilities.
However, trade attorney Tim Brightbill warned that the delayed implementation could trigger a surge in imports before the measures take effect as companies seek to avoid higher costs.
Reuters
