Solar Power World
By Kelly Pickerel | September 23, 2026
To prevent stockpiling polysilicon and its derivatives ahead of Sec. 232 tariff initiation, the Dept. of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a temporary final rule explaining how it will monitor imports.
In August, the Trump administration announced tariffs and minimum import prices on polysilicon and its derivatives under Sec. 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, deeming the imports a threat to national security. Starting Dec. 4, 2026, polysilicon derivatives (wafers, cells, finished solar panels) will have a 15% tariff, and minimum import prices are set on polysilicon and each following step in the solar panel manufacturing process.
President Donald Trump issued a proclamation authorizing the Dept. of Commerce, through BIS and in coordination with Customs and Border Control (CBP), to restrict imports and prevent stockpiling of polysilicon products before Dec. 4.
Commerce has been monitoring imports to identify importers of record (IOR) that may be stockpiling and importing polysilicon products in volumes greater than their historic averages. The department is comparing post-Aug. 6 imports with the IOR’s prior weekly averages and use of affiliates.
BIS has set weekly import limits for new IORs without historical import records:
Absent Commerce approval, new IORs that exceed these import quantities will be prohibited by CBP from importing any further polysilicon products into the United States prior to Dec. 4.
There have been mixed feelings on the Sec. 232 polysilicon tariffs, but a vocal group of domestic manufacturers has welcomed the policy effort, including Qcells.
“Flooding the U.S. market with large volumes of imported products is a strategy that companies abroad have long used to undermine American manufacturers. We have repeatedly seen import volumes surge ahead of the implementation of significant U.S. trade or industrial policies, as companies seek to exploit loopholes and gain an unfair advantage before new measures take effect,” said Andy Park, Global CEO at Hanwha Qcells. “The administration is clearly aware of this pattern of imports, which is why it is taking strong and decisive action to hold importers accountable and prevent the circumvention of U.S. trade policy. These actions send an important message that attempts to exploit loopholes and circumvent the intent of U.S. policy will not be tolerated.”
Solar Power World has collected import data for the year that shows from which countries the United States is importing solar cells and panels. It does not show company names or IORs.

 

The Solar Energy Manufacturers For America (SEMA) Coalition, which is led by Corning, Hemlock, Wacker, Qcells and First Solar, released a statement:
“The SEMA Coalition applauds Commerce and CBP’s efforts to deter the stockpiling of solar products ahead of the December effective date for its Section 232 action on polysilicon. There has been evidence of stockpiling since the proclamation was issued. Today’s action signals that Commerce intends to strictly police these practices by evaluating imports against historical levels over the past year and preventing ‘fly-by-night importers’ from establishing operations solely to stockpile products.”
Kelly Pickerel has more than 15 years of experience reporting on the U.S. solar industry and is currently editor in chief of Solar Power World. Email Kelly.

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