U.S. Slaps 50% Tariffs on Solar Materials, 25% on Tungsten

The U.S. Trade Representative in December 2024 imposed 50 percent tariffs on solar wafers and polysilicon, plus 25 percent on tungsten products. These materials underpin renewable energy and defense manufacturing. The tariffs compress margins for solar developers—whose equipment costs run 60–70 percent of project budgets—and pressure aerospace and defense contractors reliant on tungsten alloys. Enforcement includes supply-chain audits and customs holds beyond the tariff costs themselves.