Trump signs executive order to impose 15 per cent tariff on polysilicon imports
Washington, Aug 7
US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order imposing minimum import prices and a 15 per cent tariff on products made from polysilicon, a key material for solar panels and semiconductors.
The minimum import prices will be set at $21 per kilogram for polysilicon and $100 per kilogram for polysilicon ingots and wafers, according to a White House proclamation. The new trade measures are scheduled to take effect on December 4, reports Xinhua news agency.
Trump also directed the US Commerce Department to establish a program to encourage investment in domestic production of raw polysilicon and related downstream products.
According to a White House fact sheet, the measures are aimed at creating "a level playing field for American producers of these strategic goods," encouraging the "onshoring of these industries," and protecting "US national security and its defense and defense-adjacent industrial base."
According to the fact sheet, the US share of global polysilicon production capacity declined from 50 per cent in 2005 to less than 2 per cent in 2024.
Trump also signed two executive orders to narrow birthright citizenship -- a new effort by the administration following the Supreme Court's ruling against its previous order.
"We had a very unfortunate decision in the Supreme Court concerning birthright, it was close," Trump said in the White House Oval Office as he signed the new orders. "So we're making adjustments."
One of the orders targets "birth tourism," which is defined as the entry of any foreigners into the United States via a nonimmigrant visa for the purpose of giving birth on US soil, or any effort by any foreigners to facilitate such entry, according to the White House.
The other order expands the definitions of people ineligible for birthright citizenship, including children of foreign government employees, children of members of a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, as well as children of people who engaged in fraudulent activity to obtain citizenship, Xinhua news agency reported.
The 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, ratified in 1868, states that "all persons born or naturalised in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside."
— IANS
Reader Comments
Seems like protectionism is back in a big way. The US used to dominate polysilicon production, now they're just 2%? Numbers don't lie - China won that race fair and square with cheaper manufacturing. Tariffs won't make America competitive overnight, just more expensive for their own solar industry.
The birthright citizenship part is getting overlooked in all this polysilicon talk. It's a desperation move after the Supreme Court rejected their first attempt. They're targeting "birth tourism" now? Many Indian families do go to the US for that - this could impact them. Honestly, changing the definition of who gets citizenship is a slippery slope.
As someone in the renewable energy sector, I see this as a double-edged sword. Sure, it hurts Chinese imports, but it also raises costs for US solar projects. For India, this could be a golden chance - we have the manufacturing base, just need to scale up quality. Make in India plus export to US? Dimaag ki baat hai. 💡
Wait, so they're setting minimum import prices AND tariffs? That's a double whammy for anyone importing polysilicon. The US solar industry will feel this immediately - many American companies rely on cheaper imports to keep installation costs down. And let's be real: $21/kg minimum seems arbitrary. What about quality differences?
Politically, Trump is playing to his base with this "national security" narrative. But honestly, the 14th Amendment is crystal clear - "all persons born in the US are citizens." Trying to carve out exceptions for "birth tourism" won't hold up in court again
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.