US Extends Section 301 Tariff Exclusions For Solar PV

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has extended the exclusion of 178 products from China from Section 301 tariffs, including for certain solar manufacturing equipment. Initially set to expire on November 29, 2025, the exclusion will remain in effect now until November 10, 2026.  

The extension follows the ‘historic trade and economic deal’ reached between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on November 1, 2025, according to USTR.  

The solar PV manufacturing equipment excluded from the Section 301 tariffs, according to a list available on the USTR website, includes silicon growth furnaces for growing solar ingots and wafers, band saws, and diamond wire saws to cut or slice ingots into wafers, among others. These are 14 in total. 

According to the US government agency, the decision to continue exclusions is based on the assessment that these are available only in limited quantities outside of China, and that additional time is needed to shift sourcing out of China. This decision follows feedback from the public to continue exclusions, in response to the notice dated September 16, 2025.  

Section 301 tariffs were initially implemented by Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, to block certain Chinese imports into the US. Following the USTR recommendation, the US government raised tariffs on Chinese polysilicon imports to 50%, while adding silicon wafers to the list with a 50% tariff from January 1, 2025. Chinese solar cells are already subject to a 50% tariff rate.  

The move was opposed by China, as it demanded that the US reverse the decision to impose additional tariffs on Chinese companies for the export of polysilicon and silicon wafers, accusing it of violating WTO rules (see China Demands US Cancel Additional Section 301 Tariffs).