Taipei: New U.S. trade measures impacting polysilicon imports are anticipated to have minimal effects on Taiwan's solar industry, industry representatives have stated. U.S. President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order that sets minimum import prices for polysilicon and its derivatives and imposes an additional 15 percent tariff on polysilicon ingots and related products. These measures, effective from December 4, aim to safeguard the U.S. polysilicon industry from perceived national security threats.
According to Focus Taiwan, Henry Chiang, vice president of TSEC Corp., emphasized that Taiwanese products would face more advantageous tariff conditions compared to those from competitors like China and Southeast Asian nations. This difference is expected to mitigate the impact on Taiwanese suppliers. Chiang pointed out that U.S. polysilicon production does not meet domestic demand, necessitating continued reliance on imports, and thus, the new measures might increase costs in the U.S. without altering the competitive landscape significantly.
United Renewable Energy Co. (UREC) echoed the view that the measures are designed to lessen U.S. import dependence and bolster domestic production. UREC suggested that these could benefit U.S. polysilicon producers and expressed hopes for preferential treatment for foreign firms investing in the U.S. Additionally, UREC is considering expanding its U.S. investments while maintaining its operations in Taiwan.
The Taiwan Photovoltaic Industry Association (TPIA) noted that U.S. efforts to curtail Chinese imports could pave the way for partnerships between American manufacturers and Taiwanese companies, potentially through technology licensing or contract manufacturing. The association believes these measures could foster closer industrial ties between Taiwan and the U.S.
The Executive Yuan's U.S.-Taiwan economic and trade task force reported that Taiwan's photovoltaic industry had an output value of NT$108.2 billion in 2025, with exports to the U.S. accounting for a mere 1 percent. Consequently, the new tariffs are expected to have a limited impact on the industry. Taiwanese silicon wafer manufacturers with U.S. investments will be exempt from the tariffs due to a U.S.-Taiwan investment memorandum signed earlier.
The task force further noted that Taiwan's polysilicon exports to the U.S. amounted to about US$320 million, with U.S. semiconductor firms utilizing around US$252 million of these exports.