Trump imposes a 15% tariff on inputs for manufacturing solar panels and semiconductors

Washington.- The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced this Thursday the imposition of a 15% tariff and a minimum price system on imports of polysilicon and its derivatives, the key input for the manufacturing of solar panels and semiconductors, considering that those foreign purchases represent a threat to national security.

Although the proclamation does not expressly mention China, the decision comes in a context in which the Asian country dominates global polysilicon production and a large part of the solar panel supply chain.

Polysilicon is the essential raw material for manufacturing solar panels and is also used in the production of semiconductors.

The White House stated that the measure seeks to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers of strategic materials, strengthen U.S. manufacturing capacity, and ensure supply for industries linked to energy and advanced technologies.

The measure was captured in a presidential proclamation released by the White House, which is based on an investigation by the Department of Commerce conducted under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

The document concludes that imports of polysilicon and its derivatives “threaten to impair” U.S. national security and orders the implementation of restrictions to strengthen domestic production.

The new restrictions, which cover polysilicon, ingots, wafers, solar cells, and photovoltaic modules, will come into effect on December 4th.

The proclamation also instructs the Departments of Commerce and Homeland Security to oversee the implementation of the measures and assess whether further adjustments are necessary to protect the U.S. industry.