Solar cell tariff exemption from US tariffs remains uncertain, with conflicting readings
Semiconductors are definitely exempt from the ad valorem duties imposed by the April 11 action of the US President
Meanwhile, tariff hikes on Chinese imports may escalate costs, disrupt supply chains and delay projects
US President Donald Trump’s April 11, 2025 Presidential Action, detailing exceptions to the April 2 tariff list, reportedly includes solar cells – potentially exempting them from new reciprocal import duties, or so is the talk in the industry.
Last week’s order from The White House specifies semiconductors as an excepted product from the ad valorem rates of duty. According to a CNBC report, the guidance includes exemptions for solar cells along with flat-panel TV displays, flash drives, and memory cards.
The list comprises 20 product categories classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).
However, Senior Policy Analyst at Clean Energy Associates (CEA) Christian Roselund rebuffed the media report, saying that the import codes for solar ‘do not’ appear in either the presidential memoranda of April 11, 2025 or the Cargo Systems Messaging Service notice cited in the CNBC article.
In a LinkedIn post, Roselund explained, “This means that you should expect additional tariffs of 24%-48% on most imports of PV cells and modules for product that hits Customs on or after July 9, 2025. Note that these are in addition to other tariffs and duties.”
Meanwhile, the US government increased its tariffs on Chinese imports up to 245% on April 16, 2025. China is now expected to retaliate. This tariff war is already seen as set to raise solar costs, strain supply, delay projects, and push Chinese production to other nations (see Tariff War To Impact US Solar Industry Supply Chain).
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