Maxeon Announces Status Of CBP Detention Of Solar Panels

Maxeon Solar Technologies, a global leader in solar innovation, announced today that its solar panels are still being held by the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) and are not being allowed into the U.S. from its manufacturing facilities in Mexico. Despite providing detailed supply chain information and full transparency to CBP, the company has faced accusations of not providing enough documentation to prove compliance with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). Maxeon strongly disagrees with these claims, asserting that it has provided clear and solid evidence to show it meets the UFLPA’s requirements.

Outgoing CEO of Maxeon, Bill Mulligan, shared his thoughts, “As a pioneering, ethical solar company founded in the United States almost 40 years ago, Maxeon’s core values are diametrically opposed to the use of forced labor in the production of our products. Over the past twenty years we have consistently taken extraordinary measures to ensure a clean and traceable supply chain that have cost us hundreds of millions of dollars more than our competition. CBP has found no evidence of non-compliance with the UFLPA. Nonetheless, the Partnership track (under CTPAT) of CBP Electronics Center of Excellence and Expertise has decided to bar entry of our products.”

He also commented, “We are strong proponents of the UFLPA and have provided CBP with tens of thousands of pages of documentation, including numerous walk throughs for explanation of standard manufacturing and shipping processes. None of our supply chains involve entities on the UFLPA list, two of our supply chains do not even enter China, and yet the reviewers have declined to make the appropriate determination that UFLPA does not apply. This outcome is even more disappointing given the pressing need to facilitate our country’s transition to clean energy.”

Mulligan further added, “Maxeon has now moved review of its Maxeon 3 and Maxeon 6 products into the next level of review, called the Application for Further Review (AFR) process, and will submit a protest for its Performance line products. These processes will engage a new team of CBP reviewers who we hope will be able to provide an objective application of the UFPLA. We remain optimistic that this new team will be able to expeditiously reach the right conclusion and clear our products for importation.”

Maxeon Solar has faced continued challenges with U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP), as three of its products manufactured in Mexico for the U.S. market were initially detained in early July. These products include Maxeon 3 and Maxeon 6 residential solar modules, as well as Performance 6 commercial modules. Despite the company providing clear evidence that its supply chains are fully outside the scope of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), including sourcing from regions outside of China and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, all shipments have been blocked.

Maxeon submitted additional documents to CBP in October and November, showing that its products do not involve forced labor. However, CBP has continued to exclude the company’s Performance line modules, despite not finding any violations of the UFLPA. In response, Maxeon plans to file protests against these detentions, seeking further legal review. The ongoing detentions are causing significant financial and reputational harm to Maxeon, impacting its U.S. customers, including solar developers and small businesses installing residential solar panels in 30 states.