The Biden administration will increase Section 301 tariffs on imports of wafers, polysilicon and certain tungsten products from China, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced Wednesday.
Solar wafers and polysilicon imports, critical components for solar energy development, will now face a 50% tariff rate. Tungsten products, such as bars and sheets, will be subject to a 25% tariff rate. The hikes will take effect Jan. 1.
“The tariff increases announced today will further blunt the harmful policies and practices by the People’s Republic of China,” USTR Katherine Tai said in a statement. “These actions will complement the domestic investments made under the Biden-Harris Administration to promote a clean energy economy, while increasing the resilience of critical supply chains.”
The move builds on tariff hikes finalized by the Biden administration in September that target strategic product categories from China, including a 100% tariff on electric vehicles and a 50% tariff on semiconductors.
The USTR opened a 30-day public comment period following Biden’s tariff hike finalization in September. The solar industry supported Biden’s tariffs on polysilicon and wafers, however, sentiment towards duties on tungsten was more mixed.
More tariffs are likely to follow in the months ahead, as President-elect Donald Trump has consistently voiced his desire to implement heavy tariffs on China-made goods, as well as on imports from Canada and Mexico.
With additional tariff rates on the horizon, many manufacturers are weighing supply chain diversification to lessen their reliance on China for inputs and raw materials. Retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Lowe’s, meanwhile, are leaning on tariff response playbooks from the first Trump administration.
