President Trump signed a proclamation Thursday that will set a 15% tariff on imports of solar panels and components.

The US has imposed a 15% tariff on imports of solar panels and components. This move aims to reduce the country's reliance on Chinese-made panels and polysilicon, a critical material for semiconductors and solar-energy systems, according to the WSJ Economy.

The tariff will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on December 4, as stated by the White House. The proclamation also includes minimum import prices for polysilicon and its derivatives. US President Donald Trump said polysilicon is crucial for America's semiconductor and solar-power supply chains, and that the country has allowed foreign countries to weaken US producers in this sector for decades.

The tariff is intended to protect America's polysilicon manufacturing, which is vital for semiconductor and solar panel production. Yonhap News reported that the US is taking steps to maintain its technological edge amid competition with China over artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies.

Brief written by urgent.news from WSJ Economy, Yonhap News — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.