[Edaily Reporter KIM YOON JI ] On the 6th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order containing new trade measures to protect the polysilicon industry, a key raw material for semiconductors and solar panels.
The White House stated that, pursuant to the executive order, “a minimum import price system will be introduced for imports of polysilicon and polysilicon derivatives to create an environment where U.S. manufacturers of strategic goods can compete fairly,” adding that “a 15% ad valorem tariff will be imposed on polysilicon derivatives to encourage the relocation of related industries to the United States.”
Under the minimum import price system, the rates are set at $21 per kilogram for polysilicon, $100 per kilogram for polysilicon ingots and wafers, $0.22 per watt for solar cells, and $0.38 per watt for solar modules.
Regarding the 15% ad valorem tariff on derivative products, the administration explained that for products from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the European Union (EU), Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, the combined rate of the existing general tariff and the new Section 232 tariff will total 15%, while a 10% rate will apply to products from the United Kingdom.
Furthermore, under this executive order, the Secretary of Commerce has been authorized to establish an incentive program for companies that build, expand, or renovate production facilities for polysilicon and polysilicon derivatives. The White House anticipates that this program will ensure the commercial viability of U.S. production of polysilicon and derivatives and expand employment opportunities for Americans.
These measures will take effect at 12:01 a.m. (Eastern Time) on December 4, 120 days after the date of signing.
Regarding the executive order, the White House explained, “It will protect U.S. national security and the defense and defense-related industrial base,” adding, “For decades, foreign governments have dumped polysilicon and its derivatives into the U.S. market, driving out U.S. manufacturers and eliminating jobs.” Polysilicon is a key foundational material in the semiconductor industry and is critically important in defense and defense-related sectors. According to the White House, the United States’ share of global polysilicon production capacity has fallen from 50% in 2005 to less than 2% in 2024.
Polysilicon is a semiconductor material used in a wide range of applications, from smartphones and medical devices to precision weapons, and is also a key raw material for manufacturing solar panels. Due to insufficient domestic production capacity, the United States has relied heavily on imports for most of its supply.
The basis for this measure is the Section 232 investigation of the Trade Expansion Act launched by the Department of Commerce last year, a procedure designed to assess reliance on imports of specific goods from a national security perspective.