Trump to Impose 15% Tariff on Solar Panel Materials to Counter China

On Thursday, President Donald Trump is set to announce a 15% tariff along with minimum import prices on polysilicon and its derivatives. This decision follows an investigation under the Section 232 Trade Expansion Act by the Commerce Department aimed at decreasing U.S. dependence on Chinese polysilicon. The tariffs will impact raw polysilicon, wafers, photovoltaic cells, and completed solar modules. Potential beneficiaries include Hemlock Semiconductor, a division of Corning Inc., and Wacker Chemie AG from Germany. A temporary offset mechanism for domestic producers will be introduced. First Solar Inc. shares declined by 7.3%, while T1 Energy Inc. saw a 13% drop. The Consumer Technology Association opposed the tariffs, suggesting bilateral sourcing agreements instead. The Commerce Department and White House had no comments by Wednesday afternoon.