As China–US technological and industrial rivalry intensifies, Beijing is strengthening its trade defence measures. China's Ministry of Commerce announced on the 13th that anti-dumping duties on imported solar-grade polysilicon from the US and South Korea will be extended for another five years from January 14, 2026.
China has imposed anti-dumping tariffs on solar-grade polysilicon from the US and South Korea for more than a decade, but the latest extension is widely viewed as a retaliatory response to closer US-South Korea alignment in strategic industries.
According to the Ministry of Commerce's 2026 Announcement No. 3 issued on the 13th, US suppliers will generally face anti-dumping duties above 50%. REC Solar Grade Silicon and REC Advanced Silicon Materials will each be subject to a 57% tariff, as will AE Polysilicon. Hemlock Semiconductor will face a 53.3% rate, MEMC Pasadena 53.6%, while other US companies will be charged 57%.
South Korean suppliers will face wider tariff disparities. OCI will be subject to a 4.4% rate, Hankook Silicon 9.5%, and Hanwha Solutions 8.9%. SMP will face an 88.7% tariff, while Woongjin Polysilicon, KCC, Korean Advanced Materials (KAM), and Innovation Silicon will each be charged 113.8%. Other South Korean companies will face an 88.7% rate.
China has previously taken countermeasures against deeper US–South Korea cooperation in semiconductors, shipbuilding, and advanced manufacturing. On October 14, 2025, the Ministry of Commerce announced sanctions on five US-linked subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean, citing retaliation for Washington's Section 301 investigations into China's maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors.
As geopolitical risks rise, solar-grade polysilicon remains a core material for crystalline silicon solar cells. China is using trade tools such as anti-dumping measures to defend domestic industries and respond to policy pressure. Whether these actions will extend to other strategic sectors remains to be seen.
Article translated by Levi Li and edited by Jack Wu
