U.S. photo voltaic panel producers have filed a brand new tariff circumvention investigation request, this time on product coming from Ethiopia. The submitting alleges that producers utilizing Chinese language-origin elements are exploiting Ethiopia as the newest export web site to avoid antidumping/countervailing obligation (AD/CVD) orders on photo voltaic merchandise.
There was an uptick in imported photo voltaic cells and panels from Ethiopia within the final yr. Toyo just lately accomplished a 4-GW cell factory within the nation and has been importing its personal cells to be used in its 1-GW photo voltaic panel meeting plant in Houston, Texas. Origin Photo voltaic has additionally opened a cell factory in Ethiopia that’s estimated to have a 4.2-GW annual manufacturing capability. However the apparent enhance in exports are seen in completed photo voltaic panels, not photo voltaic cells. The home producers submitting the petition with the Dept. of Commerce particularly name out Toyo and Origin Photo voltaic.
The businesses that submitted the petition are a spread of experienced U.S. manufacturers together with DYCM Energy, First Photo voltaic, Qcells, Silfab, Solx, Suniva, Swift Photo voltaic and Talon PV. DYCM is allegedly opening a photo voltaic panel manufacturing facility in New York, though no concrete data has been launched. First Photo voltaic makes thin-film panels all through the USA; Qcells operates a fancy in Georgia; Silfab operates in Washington and South Carolina; Solx is beginning up in Puerto Rico; Suniva is working in Georgia and South Carolina; Swift Photo voltaic is a perovskite firm; and Talon PV is beginning up in Texas.
Toyo’s Ethiopian operations. Credit score: Google Maps
The businesses, sometimes working below the Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade banner, are concerned with the various AD/CVD requests and orders within the photo voltaic trade. The unique AD/CVD orders (Photo voltaic I) had been positioned in opposition to Chinese silicon solar products in 2012. Producers responded by shifting manufacturing to Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam — triggering new AD/CVD orders (Solar III) in June 2025. A brand new spherical of AD/CVD investigations (Solar IV) are ongoing in opposition to India, Indonesia and Laos. This Ethiopian investigation, if initiated by the Dept. of Commerce and Worldwide Commerce Fee (ITC), can be thought-about Photo voltaic V.
The Ethiopia submitting alleges that Toyo and Origin Photo voltaic are utilizing Chinese language-origin wafers to make photo voltaic cells in Ethiopia, then assembling these cells into modules in Ethiopia or Vietnam for export to the USA. The petition claims that just about 70% of the completed photo voltaic modules embrace elements and processing which are already topic to current tariffs.
U.S. imports of photo voltaic cells and modules from Ethiopia surged from zero in June of 2025 to over $300 million by yr’s finish. The petitioners say this surge correlates straight with the initiation of tariffs in opposition to imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam in June 2025 and the India, Indonesia and Laos investigation request in August 2025.
“What we’re seeing in Ethiopia follows a well-recognized playbook,” mentioned Tim Brightbill, accomplice and co-chair of the commerce apply at Wiley Rein LLP and Alliance consultant. “For over a decade, state-subsidized producers have responded to U.S. commerce enforcement by relocating minimal ending operations to the subsequent out there nation, whereas persevering with to supply practically all their inputs from the identical overseas suppliers. American photo voltaic manufacturing is at an inflection level: With billions invested, 1000’s of jobs created, and actual capability coming on-line, we’re not going to face by and permit serial tariff evasion to undercut that progress.”
The Dept. of Commerce has 30 days to provoke an investigation.
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