Trump’s Tariffs and Their Impact on the U.S. Solar Industry – 2025

Trump’s Tariffs and Their Impact on the U.S. Solar Industry – 2025

The U.S. solar industry is experiencing significant shifts due to recent tariff implementations. President Donald Trump announced “Liberation Day Tariffs” in April 2025, reshaping global trade relations and revitalizing American manufacturing. Among the industries directly impacted is the solar energy sector, which is highly reliant on global supply chains.

Detailed examination of these changes and their potential implications:​

Liberation Day Tariffs: 

The idea behind these tariffs is to reshape U.S. trade relationships, reduce reliance on foreign goods, and protect U.S. solar manufacturers.

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Baseline Import Tariff: 10% tariff on all imports.

Country-Specific Tariffs:

• China: Additional tariffs across multiple industries, including solar..
• Cambodia: All producers assigned a rate of 125.37%. ​
• Malaysia: Rates range from 0% for Hanwha Q CELLS to 81.24% for certain other producers.​ Solar Power
• Thailand: Rates range from 77.85% to 154.68%.​
• Vietnam: Rates range from 53.3% to 271.28%, depending on the producer. ​
• Other countries face varying duties based on trade surplus and perceived unfair practices.

Impact on the Solar Supply Chain:

With 10% universal import tariff, plus existing solar-specific tariffs (like Section 201, anti-dumping tariffs), you get a stacked cost burden.

The U.S. solar industry imports:

• 80% of solar panels and modules.
• Over 90% of solar cells.
• And key raw materials like polysilicon, inverters, and racking components.

Resulting Price Surge:

• Analysts expect a 20–30% increase in project costs
• Utility-scale developers are delaying projects due to price uncertainty.
• SEIA (Solar Energy Industries Association) estimates that 10+ GW of solar capacity could be delayed or canceled in 2025.

Solar cells Tariff-Rate Quota (TRQ) expansion: 

In August 2024, the annual TRQ for imported crystalline silicon photovoltaic (CSPV) cells from 5 GW to 12.5 GW was increased by the Biden administration. Imports within this quota remain exempt from the 14.25% safeguard tariff, while imports exceeding the quota are subject to the tariff. 

Impact on Solar Project Costs and Installations: 

The combination of increased tariffs is expected to raise the cost of imported solar equipment, potentially increasing prices for solar projects. Analysts estimate that utility-scale solar project costs could rise by approximately 30%, potentially reducing U.S. solar installations in 2025 to 20–25 GW from a previously expected 35–40 GW. ​

Challenges to Domestic Manufacturing Capacity: 

While the tariffs aim to encourage domestic manufacturing, the current U.S. production capacity may not be sufficient to meet demand. The industry faces challenges such as increased costs for essential components like steel and aluminum due to additional tariffs, which could hinder the expansion of domestic manufacturing. Solar cell production in the U.S. is under 10 GW, versus demand of 35–40 GW/year and delays in building new manufacturing plants mean supply gaps for the next 1–3 years.