US Section 201 tariffs on solar panels officially expire: US-China solar panel trade enters a new phase
On February 6, 2026, the Section 201 safeguard tariffs imposed by the United States on imported crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and modules officially ended. This trade measure, which began in 2018 and lasted for eight years, had a profound impact on the global photovoltaic supply chain.
Section 201 Tariff Review: Eight Years of Trade Protection Officially Ends
The Section 201 tariffs were initially applied for by U.S. domestic photovoltaic companies, aiming to limit the impact of imported products on the domestic manufacturing industry. The initial tariff rate reached 30%, subsequently decreasing gradually, and was extended again for four years in 2022.
During its implementation, exemptions for bifacial modules, tariff adjustments, and quota changes repeatedly sparked market discussions and significantly altered the structure of U.S. photovoltaic imports.
With the policy expiring in February 2026, imported photovoltaic products will no longer bear this additional tariff cost.
What does this mean for Chinese photovoltaic exports?
For Chinese and overseas photovoltaic manufacturers, the end of the Section 201 tariffs will directly reduce some of the cost pressures of entering the U.S. market.
However, it should be noted that the United States still has other trade measures in place, including additional tariffs on some products and anti-dumping investigations. This means that companies still need to rely on a globalized manufacturing layout to maintain supply stability and market competitiveness.
From a practical market perspective, the US market may exhibit the following trends in the future:
Decreasing component procurement costs and accelerated project development pace
The importance of overseas manufacturing bases remains.
Competitive focus shifts back to efficiency and cost control.
The US market may enter a new round of price competition.
With the withdrawal of safeguard tariffs, the price of imported US components is expected to become more market-driven. For buyers and project developers, this means more supply options.
At the same time, US domestic manufacturers will face more direct market competition, and the focus of future industry competition may gradually return to product performance, supply stability, and long-term cooperation capabilities.
Industry Observation
Industry insiders believe that the end of Section 201 tariffs does not mean the complete disappearance of trade barriers, but rather a phased adjustment in the structure of US photovoltaic import policies. For global companies, maintaining a flexible supply chain layout and continuous technological upgrades remain key to winning the market.
Keywords: US solar tariff, Section 201 solar, solar module import USA, photovoltaic trade, China solar export, solar market 2026