Trump Imposes 15% Tariff on Polysilicon Derivatives, a Key Semiconductor Raw Material

[Financial News] President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on the 6th local time imposing a 15% tariff on polysilicon derivatives, a key raw material for semiconductors.
In the proclamation, President Trump said, "I find it necessary and appropriate to impose a 15% tariff on these imports so that imports of polysilicon derivatives do not threaten to undermine the national security of the United States." He also set the minimum import price for polysilicon at $21 per kilogram.
For polysilicon ingots, or cylindrical blocks of polysilicon, and wafers, the minimum import price was set at $100 per kilogram.
The minimum import price is seen as a measure to block dumping of low-priced imports, mainly from China, and to protect domestic production capacity in the United States.
The measure will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on Dec. 4, 120 days from now.
The U.S. Department of Commerce launched an investigation into polysilicon under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 in July last year, and the executive order is based on the findings of that probe.
Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 gives the president authority to restrict imports through tariffs or other appropriate measures if those imports are deemed to threaten national security.
President Trump said, "Polysilicon is a foundational material that supports the security of the United States' semiconductor and solar power supply chains," adding that the measure is intended to rebuild the U.S. polysilicon industry.


[email protected] Lee Seok-woo, international affairs Reporter