US unveils 15 percent tariff on polysilicon products

On Thursday, the White House unveiled a 15-percent tariff on products made from polysilicon, a raw material used in semiconductors and solar panels. The measure primarily targets China, which is the primary producer of the material, under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as declared by US President Donald Trump. The tariff aims to bolster domestic chip and solar supply chains, which are crucial for competing with Beijing on artificial intelligence and energy.

By creating a level playing field for American producers and encouraging the onshoring of these industries, the White House seeks to bring the supply chain back to the United States. Polysilicon, an ultra-pure form of silicon, serves as the foundation for semiconductor and solar manufacturing. The tariff follows a year-long Commerce Department investigation into polysilicon imports, highlighting the material's importance in the semiconductor industry.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphasized the need for the supply chain to remain within the United States, stating that the tariff will prevent Chinese manufacturers from dumping products in the market. This move comes after a decade of American solar factories accusing Chinese rivals of dumping solar panels, a claim Beijing has long dismissed.

The Commerce Department's investigation, which began in July 2025, serves as the latest in a series of tariffs imposed by Trump using Section 232 since his return to the White House. Despite the majority of these duties being overturned by the US Supreme Court in February, the sector-specific tariffs justified by Section 232 investigations remain in place.