Trump imposes 15% tariff on chip-grade polysilicon

President Trump signed an executive order imposing a 15% tariff on imported polysilicon, a material used in both semiconductor chips and solar panels. The tariff takes effect December 6, 2026.

Why it matters: Polysilicon is a foundational input for chip wafers, so a tariff adds cost pressure across the semiconductor supply chain just as AI-driven chip and memory demand is already straining prices. It's part of a broader pattern of trade policy increasingly shaping AI hardware economics alongside export controls.