With　the　rapid　depletion　of　fossil　fuels　and　increasing　concern　about　climate　change,　photovoltaic　systems　have　become　a　key　technology　option　for　realizing　a　decarbonized　power　sector　and　sustainable　energy　supply.　The　global　trade　in　photovoltaic　cells　has　increased　dramatically　in　the　last　two　decades　and　deserves　a　dedicated　investigation.　First,　from　a　static　analysis　perspective,　this　study　builds　the　global　photovoltaic　cell　trade　network　and　trade　competition　network　from　2000　to　2019　and　analyzes　the　trade　characteristics　and　competition　pattern　in　the　global　photovoltaic　cell　trade.　Second,　from　a　dynamic　analysis　perspective,　the　potential　impacts　of　coronavirus　disease　2019　on　the　global　photovoltaic　cell　trade　is　simulated　based　on　2019　trade　data.　The　network　analyses　show　that　China,　Germany　and　Japan　have　long　dominated　the　trade　market　in　photovoltaic　cells.　From　2000　to　2019,　China?s　total　imports　and　exports　were　the　largest.　Asian　countries　held　an　important　position　in　global　photovoltaic　cell　exports.　The　competition　in　the　global　photovoltaic　cell　trade　was　concentrated　in　Asia　and　Europe.　The　simulation　results　indicate　that　the　global　photovoltaic　cell　trade　network　shows　a　?robust-yet-fragile?　configuration.　This　network　is　more　resistant　to　demand-reduction-driven　shocks　than　to　supply-reduction-driven　shocks.　Policy　implications　are　provided　for　managing　the　photovoltaic　cell　trade　at　the　national　and　global　levels　and　coping　with　future　extreme　disturbances.