# U.S. Federal Government Implements Polysilicon Price Floor

The U.S. Federal Government has established a federal minimum import price floor of 38 cents per watt on polysilicon and its derivatives, including solar cells and modules. This policy responds to the dramatic decline of domestic polysilicon production from about 50% of global output to under 2% over the past two decades. The price floor aims to reduce reliance on foreign imports, particularly from China, by setting a baseline cost before any duties are applied. While the immediate effect is an increase in import costs, the policy is designed to incentivize the onshoring and rebuilding of domestic polysilicon manufacturing capacity, a process expected to take several years. Procurement professionals and contractors involved in solar energy supply chains should consider the impact of this price floor on sourcing strategies, cost structures, and potential opportunities in domestic polysilicon production and related manufacturing sectors.

- **Why this matters:** The price floor creates a new cost baseline for imported solar materials, affecting procurement budgets and supplier selection.
- Domestic manufacturers like Suniva may gain competitive advantage as onshoring efforts progress.
- Organizations should evaluate supply chain risks and opportunities related to polysilicon sourcing in light of this policy.
- This development signals federal commitment to strengthening domestic solar manufacturing, potentially leading to future procurement initiatives supporting local production.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Energy & Utilities
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** September 24, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Federal Government

### Vendors
- Suniva (upstream polysilicon and solar cell manufacturer)

### Sources
- [US polysilicon fell from half of global output to under 2 percent in roughly two decades, and a federal price floor set at 38 cents per watt locks every solar module importer into a minimum sticker before any duty is added](https://gcn.com/us-polysilicon-fell-half-global-output/21898) - gcn.com