Trump policies have stalled China-linked US solar factories

Reuters, a UK-based news agency, reported that Trump administration policies have stalled business with at least a half dozen recently built US solar panel factories. The uncertainty is tied to pending Treasury guidance under Trump-backed 2025 legislation, which reduced Biden-era clean-energy subsidies and restricted China-linked access to remaining support. The law limits Chinese ownership in eligible plants to 25% and prohibits “effective control” by Chinese firms. The policy shift affects more than a third of US solar capacity in factories initially built by Chinese firms. China-linked producers built at least 25 GW of about 66 GW of operating US module manufacturing capacity. Solar equipment makers have announced nearly $43 billion in investments supporting a projected 48,000 jobs. Sunrun has narrowed its suppliers to Qcells, REC, Silfab, and Elin, while Palmetto has avoided China-linked producers. Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, and Goldman Sachs have reduced tax-equity financing for some solar projects over concerns that future Treasury guidance could affect tax credits.