Addressing Forced Labor Concerns in Polysilicon Produced in Xinjiang
June 7, 2021 The solar industry is in trouble: there is mounting evidence that the polysilicon produced in Xinjiang, the first step in the supply chain for solar photovoltaics, possibly uses forced labor. Given that Xinjiang now produces maybe half of the world’s polysilicon, there are no easy options to deal with this problem, at least in the short term. But this does not mean that the United States is powerless; instead, it requires the adoption of a more patient, targeted, multi-year response. Today’s Predicament The U.S. government and the U.S. solar industry have grappled with how to...