Industry ministry convenes meeting on US polysilicon tariffs

The industry ministry said Tuesday it had convened a government-industry meeting to assess how new US trade measures on polysilicon could affect South Korean companies' exports and supply chains in the United States.

Park Jeong-seong, the ministry's trade vice minister, chaired the 4:30 p.m. meeting at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Participants included officials from the climate ministry, Samsung Electronics, Hanwha Qcells, OCI, SK Siltron and the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association.

The US government announced the measures on Aug. 6, following a Section 232 investigation into polysilicon that began in July last year. It introduced a minimum import-price system for polysilicon and its derivatives and a 15 percent tariff on derivative products including ingots, wafers and solar cells.

The price floors are 21 dollars per kilogram for polysilicon and 100 dollars per kilogram for ingots and wafers. Solar cells face a minimum price of 0.22 dollars per watt, compared with 0.38 dollars per watt for solar modules.

"We will closely examine the short- and long-term effects of the current polysilicon Section 232 action on Korean industry and do our utmost to ensure needed government support is provided where and when it is needed," Park said.

The ministry said it would remain in close contact with industry and respond actively, including through consultations with the United States, to minimize the effects on Korean companies and exports.