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US-China Trade War
Washington has announced a 15% tariff and a minimum price on imports of polysilicon, a key raw material for solar panels and semiconductors. The measure, which will take effect in December, aims to protect the US domestic industry from Chinese dominance and could distort the European market, impacting Spanish companies.
The Government of Estados Unidos, under the presidency of Donald Trump, has formalized a new chapter in its trade protection strategy with the imposition of a 15% tariff and a minimum price to imports of polysilicon and its derivatives. This material is a critical component for both the manufacture of solar panels and the semiconductor industry, two sectors considered strategic for U.S. national security.
According to a decree signed last Thursday and communicated by the Casa BlancaThe measure will come into effect next December 4th 2026The explicit goal is to revitalize domestic production and reduce the vulnerability of the U.S. supply chain, currently dominated by [unspecified industries]. ChinaThe statistics of BloombergNEF They point out that the Asian giant controlled 96% of the world's polysilicon production capacity in 2024, while Estados Unidos It barely represented 0,8%.
The new regulation establishes a minimum import price of $21 per kilogram for raw polysilicon and $100 per kilogram for ingots and wafers. For photovoltaic components, imported solar cells will have a base price of $0,22 per watt, and modules, $0,38 per watt. The Administration has also warned that it will restrict imports from companies that attempt to stockpile inventory before the effective date to circumvent the tariffs.
Mixed reactions in the industry and the energy impact
The measure has been met with mixed opinions. Manufacturers with investments in the United States, such as Hanwha QcellsThey have celebrated the decision, stating through their CEO, Andy Parkwhich "will pave the way for more investment." Polysilicon producing companies in EE. UU.as the Hemlock Semiconductor (subsidiary of Corning) and the German Wacker ChemieThey are the main theoretical beneficiaries of this protectionist policy.
However, several solar energy sector associations have warned that domestic polysilicon production is insufficient to meet internal demand. Critics argue that the increased cost of imported components will not only raise the costs of solar farms and consumer electronics prices, but could also slow the modernization of energy infrastructure. This setback comes at a critical time, with electricity demand skyrocketing due to the exponential growth of artificial intelligence. In the first quarter of 2026, Estados Unidos It installed 7,8 gigawatts of solar capacity, which represented 60% of all new electricity generation capacity in the country.
Impact on the global supply chain and in Spain
Although the measure is limited to the US market, its side effects will be felt globally, with particular repercussions in Europa and, by extension, in EspañaThe main risk to the European market is a potential trade diversion: Asian-origin photovoltaic products that can no longer compete in Estados Unidos They will seek alternative markets, being the Unión Europea The most likely outcome. This scenario puts considerable pressure on European manufacturers, including Spanish ones, who could face intensified price competition that erodes their profitability.
For Spanish companies in the solar sector, both component manufacturers and project developers, the decision to Washington This introduces volatility into global module prices and further strains an already complex supply chain. Furthermore, the measure could force Bruselas to evaluate their own trade defense policies to prevent the single market from becoming the main destination for Asian surpluses. In the semiconductor sector, the US strategy reinforces the trend toward regionalization of production, a factor that could influence the development of European initiatives such as the Spanish PERTE Chip project.
This action is part of a series of national security investigations driven by the Administration Trump Under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which has already affected industries such as steel, aluminum, and automobiles, and which keeps sectors such as drones, wind turbines, and pharmaceuticals under scrutiny.
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