Restricting Solar Equipment Exports to the US? China's Ministry of Commerce Evades Question, Claiming Unawareness
Reports suggest China is considering restricting exports of solar panel manufacturing equipment to the US, potentially to counter Tesla's domestic expansion plans. China's Ministry of Commerce declined to comment.
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- 📰 Published: April 16, 2026 at 17:56
- 🔍 Collected: April 16, 2026 at 18:31 (35 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 00:26 (53h 54m after Collected)
(Central News Agency, Taipei, 16th) Foreign media reported yesterday that Chinese officials have convened initial meetings with domestic solar panel equipment suppliers to consider restricting the export of solar equipment to the United States, attracting attention. However, when asked by the media today, He Yadong, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce, evaded the question, claiming he was "unaware of the situation."
Reuters reported on the 15th that, besides insiders revealing the above information, analysts and the industry believe this move by China is related to Tesla CEO Elon Musk pushing to expand US solar panel production capacity to reduce reliance on China, and is also a continuation of the rare earth control mindset.
The report pointed out that this official inclination by China has not yet entered the formal opinion-solicitation stage, so no final decision has been made. However, once implemented, such measures could hit US companies' investments related to solar energy and hinder US competitiveness in space computing; this is currently a new field of US-China competition and a key layout area for Musk.
Analysts believe that if China implements this restriction, it could affect plans by US companies like Tesla to build or expand factories and promote localized production in the US. It also signals that China might expand export controls in other advantageous areas, continuing the approach seen with rare earth export controls.
Currently, China produces over 80% of the world's solar modules, and the world's top 10 solar cell manufacturing equipment suppliers are all located in China.
Reuters previously quoted two insiders in March saying that Tesla was seeking to procure $2.9 billion (about NT$91.6 billion) worth of solar panel and cell manufacturing equipment from several Chinese suppliers, as Musk is planning to increase US solar capacity by 100 gigawatts (GW).
Chinese financial media reported in early February that Musk's team privately visited multiple Chinese solar photovoltaic enterprises in January, inspecting projects covering equipment, silicon wafers, and cell modules. They were eyeing China's low-cost, scaled manufacturing advantages. At the time, Chinese companies had confirmed contact with Musk's team. (Editors: Chiu Kuo-chiang / Chen Yen-chun) 1150416
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Reuters reported on the 15th that, besides insiders revealing the above information, analysts and the industry believe this move by China is related to Tesla CEO Elon Musk pushing to expand US solar panel production capacity to reduce reliance on China, and is also a continuation of the rare earth control mindset.
The report pointed out that this official inclination by China has not yet entered the formal opinion-solicitation stage, so no final decision has been made. However, once implemented, such measures could hit US companies' investments related to solar energy and hinder US competitiveness in space computing; this is currently a new field of US-China competition and a key layout area for Musk.
Analysts believe that if China implements this restriction, it could affect plans by US companies like Tesla to build or expand factories and promote localized production in the US. It also signals that China might expand export controls in other advantageous areas, continuing the approach seen with rare earth export controls.
Currently, China produces over 80% of the world's solar modules, and the world's top 10 solar cell manufacturing equipment suppliers are all located in China.
Reuters previously quoted two insiders in March saying that Tesla was seeking to procure $2.9 billion (about NT$91.6 billion) worth of solar panel and cell manufacturing equipment from several Chinese suppliers, as Musk is planning to increase US solar capacity by 100 gigawatts (GW).
Chinese financial media reported in early February that Musk's team privately visited multiple Chinese solar photovoltaic enterprises in January, inspecting projects covering equipment, silicon wafers, and cell modules. They were eyeing China's low-cost, scaled manufacturing advantages. At the time, Chinese companies had confirmed contact with Musk's team. (Editors: Chiu Kuo-chiang / Chen Yen-chun) 1150416
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