U.S. Imposes 15% Tariff and Price Floors on Polysilicon Imports

Overview

• The White House issued a Section 232 proclamation Thursday that sets a 15% tariff and defined minimum import prices on polysilicon products, with the measures taking effect on December 4, 2026.
• The proclamation fixes price floors at $21 per kilogram for polysilicon, $100 per kilogram for ingots and wafers, $0.22 per watt for solar cells, and $0.38 per watt for solar modules.
• The Department of Commerce is authorized to create an incentives program for firms that build U.S. polysilicon or downstream plants and to change the minimum prices or restrict imports if companies are found stockpiling before the effective date.
• Industry reaction is mixed: some U.S.-linked manufacturers and equipment makers welcomed possible investment and protection for domestic capacity while solar developers and trade critics warned higher input costs could slow project deployment and raise consumer prices.
• The move targets a market that has become highly concentrated overseas, with China cited as supplying roughly 96% of global polysilicon capacity while the United States relies mainly on two plants, Hemlock and Wacker, creating questions about how quickly new U.S. capacity can scale.