Donald Trump has ordered a new 15% tariff on imported products made of polysilicon, an important ingredient in microchip manufacturing that is primarily produced by China. Trump said in the order that he had accepted recommendations by the commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, to set minimum ​import prices of $21 (£15.62) a kilogram ​for polysilicon, $100 a kilogram for polysilicon ingots and wafers, $0.22 a watt for solar cells, and $0.38 a watt for solar modules or panels. She added that although disruption in the Middle East could continue to keep energy and transport costs elevated, “China’s competitiveness in AI hardware, electric vehicles, batteries, and other high-value manufacturing will probably allow it to continue gaining global export market share despite softer demand”.