The United States confirmed steep import duties on solar products from China and Taiwan earlier on Wednesday in a decision that may inflame trade tensions between the two countries.

"Changes in the availability of the Process in Trade for US solar grade polysilicon exports to China will have a negative effect on REC Silicon's earnings and cash flows in the short term," the Oslo-listed firm said in a statement.

REC, which manufactures silicon materials for the solar and electronics industries, expects fourth-quarter earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) between $35 million and $40 million, down from $44.9 million in the third quarter.

(Reporting by Stine Jacobsen; Editing by Anupama Dwivedi)