Texas-based solar manufacturer T1 Energy says it has received a waiver from the US Department of Commerce allowing it to import up to 1.725 GW of solar cells for its module assembly plant in Wilmer, south of Dallas. According to pv magazine USA, T1 appears to be the first company to publicly disclose receiving such a waiver ahead of the Section 232 tariffs on solar products that begin on December 4.
Why a waiver is needed
From December 4, 2026, polysilicon and silicon-based solar products imported into the United States will face a 15% tariff under Section 232, together with minimum import prices. The measures were set out in a presidential proclamation in August.
To stop companies from flooding the market with cheap imports before that date, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security issued a temporary rule on September 22. It runs until December 3. Under the rule, Commerce monitors importers and can block further shipments if volumes are substantially greater than historical averages. Importers that registered on or after August 6 face strict weekly caps unless they obtain approval.
Companies affected by the rule can apply for a waiver, and Commerce says it intends to respond within 14 days of receiving an application.
What T1 gets
The waiver protects T1 from stockpiling penalties while it imports cells to keep its Wilmer module lines running. The company is building its own cell factory, G2_Austin, in Rockdale near Austin, which is slated to start producing cells in the first quarter of 2027. Until then, imported cells fill the gap.
"We appreciate the Commerce Department's support in granting this waiver," said Dan Barcelo, chief executive of T1 Energy.
Demand for US-made products
Barcelo said the tariff action has already shifted the market. "Since the Section 232 proclamation, customer demand for domestic solar cells and modules has meaningfully risen," he said.
pv magazine USA notes that other importers have likely requested similar waivers, but T1 appears to be the first to say publicly that it has received one. That makes the case an early test of how the waiver process will work in practice.
The bigger picture
The United States has spent several years trying to rebuild a domestic solar supply chain, from polysilicon to finished modules. Module assembly capacity has grown quickly, but cell production still lags far behind. That gap leaves US module makers dependent on imported cells, and exposed to every new trade measure.
The Section 232 framework raises the cost of that dependence. Manufacturers with clear plans to make their own cells are better placed to secure waivers and keep production running through the transition.
What it means
For US developers and buyers, the waiver suggests that domestic module supply from manufacturers with credible cell plans should continue into 2027 without a sudden stop. But prices for US-made modules are likely to stay firm, given rising demand and higher import costs. For manufacturers elsewhere in the Americas and Asia, the message is that access to the US market will increasingly depend on investment and production inside the country.
Source: pv magazine USA; rule details from KPMG's summary of the Bureau of Industry and Security temporary final rule.
