Key facts
- President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a 15 percent tariff on polysilicon derivative products.
- The tariff will take effect 120 days after the signing.
- Minimum import prices were also established for polysilicon, ingots, wafers, solar cells, and solar modules.
- The action was taken under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
- The stated goals include protecting domestic manufacturing, preventing overseas dumping, and onshoring supply chains.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Thursday to impose a 15 percent tariff on polysilicon derivative products, a move intended to protect America's polysilicon manufacturing, which is crucial for semiconductor production. The tariff action will take effect 120 days after the signing.
The proclamation also includes the imposition of minimum import prices for imported polysilicon and its derivatives. These minimum prices are set at $21 per kilogram for polysilicon, $100 per kg for ingots and wafers, $0.22 per watt for solar cells, and $0.38 per watt for solar modules. The White House explained that this minimum price program is designed to "create a level playing field for American producers of these strategic goods."
President Trump enacted this tariff action under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which grants the president authority to adjust imports if they are deemed to threaten national security. White House Staff Secretary William Scharf stated that these actions are intended to ensure domestic polysilicon manufacturing is supported and protected from overseas dumping and offshore threats, aiming to onshore manufacturing capacity and protect American industry from foreign actors.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick highlighted polysilicon's role as a "foundational" product for silicon wafers used in AI chips, emphasizing the need for an integrated supply chain within the U.S. He added that the measures aim to prevent dumping by setting prices and tariffs to encourage domestic production.