Nicolai Haugsted
Trump prepares another major tariff push with China’s supply chain in focus.
Inevitably, another cornerstone of the global technology supply chain has found itself at the center of Donald Trump’s trade agenda.
According to Reuters, the Trump administration is expected to unveil sweeping new import restrictions on polysilicon as early as Thursday. The material is a critical ingredient in both solar panels and semiconductor production, making the move significant for manufacturers around the world.
Fresh tariffs expected
Sources familiar with the plans say President Donald Trump is preparing a proclamation introducing a 15% tariff on products derived from polysilicon.
Beyond the tariff itself, the administration is also expected to establish minimum import prices for several products across the solar manufacturing chain, including polysilicon, wafers, solar cells and finished solar panels.
The proposed measures form part of a broader strategy designed to shield U.S. producers from increasing competition linked to China’s expanding role in the global semiconductor and solar industries.
Focus on domestic manufacturing
Washington has spent the past year conducting a national security investigation into polysilicon imports through the Commerce Department.
Supporters of the policy argue stronger trade protections could help American manufacturers compete against lower-cost foreign suppliers, particularly as China continues investing heavily in chip production and renewable energy supply chains.
Proposed combination of tariffs and minimum pricing marks a hybrid approach that aims to make imported products less competitive while supporting domestic production.
Decision arrives at a time when the Trump administration has simultaneously reduced federal backing for renewable energy initiatives, creating new uncertainty for parts of the U.S. solar industry that rely on imported components.
Neither the White House nor the Commerce Department immediately commented on the reported plans.
