Trump Administration Plans Polysilicon Price Floor and Tariffs to Counter China

Barchart·08/04/2026 22:44:09

The Trump administration is preparing a minimum import price and tariffs on polysilicon and related products, targeting Chinese dominance of a material used in solar panels and semiconductors. The expected Section 232 action would protect U.S. production, including Hemlock Semiconductor, partly owned by Corning ($GLW), while potentially raising input costs for domestic solar manufacturers.

• The proposed hybrid system would combine a polysilicon import-price floor with tariffs on related products.
• Importers investing in U.S. wafer and solar-cell manufacturing may receive offsets against added trade costs.
• China controls roughly 80% of global solar manufacturing capacity.
• Corning disclosed $600,000 in second-quarter federal lobbying, including $330,000 covering solar and semiconductor supply chains, manufacturing incentives and trade.
• T1 Energy ($TE) disclosed $675,000 across recent filings, including work on the Section 232 polysilicon investigation and solar tariffs. Additional Corning lobbying details are available here.

Relevant Companies

• Corning ($GLW) – Its Hemlock joint venture operates a U.S. polysilicon factory.
• T1 Energy ($TE) – Its planned U.S. solar-cell production could face higher imported-material costs.
• Canadian Solar ($CSIQ) – Its U.S. manufacturing operations could be affected by tariffs on imported solar inputs.

Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. This article may be updated as more details become available.

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