U.S. President Donald Trump announced to impose a 15% tariff and minimum prices on polysilicon product imports, effective Dec. 4, according to a White House decree published Thursday.
Polysilicon is used for the production of solar products and semiconductors.
The government will also offer incentives for companies investing in the U.S. production of polysilicon products.
Trump said the initiative was made to protect national interests and security as the U.S. "allowed foreign countries to weaken United States producers". No specific country was mentioned in the decree, but China is deemed as one of the biggest producers of solar products, such as wafers, cells and panels, as well as a major market in semiconductors.