Ethiopian solar panel tariffs: US Seeks Probe in ’24

A coalition of eight prominent U.S. solar manufacturers, including industry leaders First Solar and Qcells, has formally petitioned the Department of Commerce to investigate a sudden and dramatic surge in solar panel imports from Ethiopia. The group alleges that certain manufacturers are using the African nation as a conduit to circumvent long-standing antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) on Chinese solar components.

The request, filed around May 12-13, 2026, spotlights an alarming trend in trade data. U.S. imports of solar cells and modules from Ethiopia skyrocketed from virtually zero in June 2025 to over $300 million by the end of that year. This spike occurred immediately after the U.S. imposed steep tariffs on solar products from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, suggesting a strategic shift by manufacturers to a new, untariffed location.

At the heart of the petition is the claim of a classic “country-hopping” scheme. The manufacturers assert that companies, specifically naming Toyo and Origin Solar, are using Chinese-origin wafers to produce solar cells in Ethiopia. These cells are then assembled into modules, either in Ethiopia or Vietnam, before being shipped to the U.S. The filing claims that nearly 70% of the finished modules imported via this route contain components that are already subject to U.S. duties, effectively nullifying trade protections for domestic producers.

This move is the latest chapter in a decade-long effort by U.S. companies to counter what they describe as unfair trade practices. With the broader Section 201 tariffs having expired in February 2026, AD/CVD investigations have become the primary tool for addressing these circumvention tactics. The coalition urging for the probe also includes DYCM Power, Silfab, Solx, Suniva, Swift Solar, and Talon PV, representing a unified front from the domestic industry.

The Department of Commerce now has a 30-day window to decide whether to launch a formal investigation. If it proceeds, the case will be designated “Solar V,” following similar ongoing inquiries into imports from India, Indonesia, and Laos. The outcome could significantly alter global solar supply chains and impact the U.S. market’s trajectory toward energy independence.

Sources for Ethiopian solar panel tariffs: US Seeks Probe in ’24

1. China-linked Solar Tariff Evasion in Ethiopia: Explained
2. U.S. Solar Panel Import Data for 2025
3. U.S. Solar Makers Challenge Ethiopian Imports Amid Tariff Evasion Concerns
4. US DOC Issues Steep AD/CVD Tariffs on Southeast Asian Solar Cells
5. End of an Era: Sec. 201 Tariffs on Imported Solar Panels Expire
6. US Solar Panel Makers Request Investigation into Ethiopian Exports