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.

S. market with large volumes of imported products is a strategy that companies abroad have long used to undermine American manufacturers.

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