After the Biden administration doubled Section 301 tariffs from 25% to 50%, the Trump administration has added another 10%.
President Donald Trump issued an executive order Feb. 1, 2025, adding a 10% tariff to certain goods shipped from China. The tariffs are effective Feb. 4, 2025
The order also called for 10% tariffs on “energy resources” imported from Canada and from Mexico. The tariffs on imported goods from Mexico are delayed for a month.
The executive order’s definition of “energy resources” includes solar-grade polysilicon, solar cells and wafers, but does not include finished solar modules.
Imported solar energy resources, including solar polysilicon, wafers, and cells from China are now subject to 60% tariffs under Section 301.
In May 2024, the Biden administration doubled tariffs on solar cells from China from 25% to 50%. In December, the Biden administration also doubled the 25% tariff rate on polysilicon to 50% and added solar wafers to Section 301, setting the tariff at 50%.
Both administrations have supported tariffs on solar goods from China in part as a way to boost U.S. solar manufacturing. However, setting up robust polysilicon, ingot, and wafering outside of China may prove difficult. In 2022, China achieved an 89% global share of solar-grade polysilicon, which has only expanded since. In 2024, global oversupply caused crashing prices.
Furthermore, amid uncertainty caused by the Trump Administration’s freezing of federal disbursements for climate and energy spending, announced factories in the United States are now being paused. Premier Energies announcement to halt plans for a 1 GW U.S. solar cell factory, and KORE Power pausing its plans for a battery manufacturing facility in Arizona.
