ETHIOPIA · TRADE · ENERGY
Key Facts
- What happened US Customs released solar cells made at TOYO’s Ethiopian plant after a supply chain review.
- Who TOYO is a Japanese solar maker listed on Nasdaq, with a module factory in Humble, Texas.
- The announcement The company disclosed the release on Thursday 29 October 2026.
- Still open A separate US Commerce Department probe into duty evasion through Ethiopia continues.
- Next date A preliminary Commerce finding is due around mid-December 2026, unless extended.
US Customs and Border Protection has released shipments of solar cells made at the Ethiopian plant of TOYO, a Japanese solar manufacturer, the company said on Thursday 29 October 2026. The agency let the cells enter the United States after reviewing documents that trace where the company’s raw materials came from.
For US readers, the release matters because Ethiopia has become a new route for solar products into the American market, and Washington is checking whether that route dodges tariffs on Chinese goods. Our guide to Ethiopia’s economy and its key players explains who drives the country’s push into manufacturing.
What Happened
TOYO said Customs and Border Protection, the US agency that checks goods at the border, had completed its review and released cells produced at the company’s Ethiopian facility. TOYO says it handed over full traceability records, including where its polysilicon, the raw material for solar cells, and its wafers, the thin slices cut from it, were bought.
Chief Executive Takahiko Onozuka thanked the agency for a careful review, and said a Japanese company building in America holds itself to high standards of openness and compliance. The company did not say how many shipments were released, when they were held, or under what legal power.
Why the Cells Were Held
According to the company’s regulatory filing, Customs issued detention notices on Wednesday 27 May and Thursday 28 May 2026 for two cell shipments worth about US$13,770 in total, which the agency suspected of being linked to forced labor. TOYO has not said whether these are the same shipments that have now been freed.
US law bars goods made with forced labor, and importers must prove where their materials come from when Customs asks. That is why the supply chain papers, rather than a court ruling, decided the outcome here.
The Bigger Probe Is Not Over
Eight US solar manufacturers asked the Commerce Department in May 2026 to look at TOYO and a second Ethiopian producer, Origin Solar. They argue that cells and modules finished in Ethiopia from Chinese parts should pay the same extra duties the United States already charges on Chinese solar products.
Commerce opened a country-wide inquiry on Friday 17 July 2026 into solar cells and modules completed in Ethiopia with Chinese components. A preliminary decision is due around mid-December unless the deadline is extended.
TOYO’s Position
TOYO denies the allegations. It says the cells made in Ethiopia use polysilicon bought only from the United States and Malaysia.
The company says it has strengthened its US import compliance program and is seeking certification under CTPAT, a Customs program that gives trusted importers faster clearance. The release does not say that certification has been granted.
What It Means for You
If you own US solar panels or plan to buy them, the case is a reminder that tariff rules can change where panels come from, and that supply can be delayed when Customs holds a shipment. Panel prices in the United States depend on how many sources can ship without extra duties.
If you hold shares in US or Japanese solar companies, the Commerce decision in December is the date to watch. A finding against Ethiopian producers would raise costs for them and could help the American makers who filed the complaint.
What Is Not Known
It is not known how many shipments were freed or what they were worth, and the company has not said whether the forced-labor detentions are resolved in full. Customs has not published its own statement on the release.
It is also not known how Commerce will rule in December, or whether it will extend its deadline. Ethiopia’s government has not commented on the release in the material we reviewed.
More: Ethiopia news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Did US Customs Release Ethiopia’s Solar Cells?
TOYO says the agency finished its review of the company’s supply chain records and let the shipments in. The company did not say how many shipments were released.
Is Ethiopia Still Under a US Solar Tariff Probe?
Yes. The Commerce Department opened a country-wide inquiry on 17 July 2026, and a preliminary finding is due around mid-December unless extended.
What Is CTPAT?
CTPAT is a US Customs program for importers who meet security and compliance standards. TOYO says it is seeking certification but has not received it.
Sources: TOYO Co., Ltd., press release confirming release of Ethiopia-produced solar cells, 29 October 2026; US Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Ethiopia solar circumvention inquiry, Federal Register notice 91 FR 44821, 17 July 2026; TOYO Co., Ltd., regulatory filing on detention notices, May 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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