Maxeon Americas, Inc. v. United States
- Lyall Burgess
- Sep 23, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 10, 2025
Not a headline we expected to see but it seems that Maxeon has run out of options. Since July 2024 they have had 156 containers full of solar panels detained by Customs & Border Patrol (CBP). The panels were coming from Maxeon's factory in Mexico to the US, as many shipments have done in the past, but this time Maxeon was asked to prove that forced labor was not used in their production.
The main law prohibiting the import of solar panels and related materials made with forced labor is the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). Since going into law in 2022, CBP has detained billions of dollars in electronics equipment including solar panels. The CBP data reveals they stepped it up in June 2024:
January thru May 2024 - $5.73 million detained by CBP
June 2024 alone - $15.67 million detained by CBP
Since 2022, Maxeon has made over 8,000 shipments from Mexico into the US in full compliance with UFLPA.
With future shipments of solar panels possibly subject to the same detainment it in effect put a stop to all further importation of Maxeon solar panels into the US. Despite Maxeon having complied with UFPLA for 8,000 shipments between 2022-2024, CBP alleged a lack of sufficient documentation to prove compliance in June 2024! Maxeon disagreed saying they have provided clear evidence to the contrary and as such is now contesting CBP's decision at the U.S. Court of International Trade.
Maxeon Americas, Inc. v. United States
1:25-cv-00074 | U.S. Court of International Trade
Plaintiff: | Maxeon Americas, Inc. |
Defendant: | United States |
Case Number: | 1:2025cv00072 |
Filed: | April 21, 2025 |
Court: | U.S. Court of International Trade |
What does this mean for the future?
The recent update we can see online from the Court dockets is that on July 22nd, 2025 there was an "Order of Assignment to a Judge". And more recently on September 11th, 2025 an "Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Answer to Complaint." So CBP is asking for an extension to reply and we wait to see what happens and hope that these panels are released very soon. In the meantime, Maxeon has been busy starting a 5-year lease on an existing factory in Albuquerque, New Mexico so they can rapidly deploy as assembly line. This is ahead of their planned new factory build, also in Albuquerque, NM.
Maxeon has been working hard on making available a solar panel assembled in the US and the first product we will start shipping out to customers at the end of September 2025 is the Maxeon 415W-R Click below to order yours today.
UPDATE NOV 6th:
A filing was ordered on September 11th, 2025 granting the defendant an extension and that it must file a response on or before October 15th, 2025. It was further ordered that, pursuant to U.S. Court of International Trade Rule 16(b)(1), the parties shall meet and confer, and file a joint proposed scheduling order, within 30 days of the filing of Defendant's response. Sounds like progress but unfortunately there is now a delay in this because of the government shutdown!
...these proceedings are stayed until Congress appropriates funds for the Department of Justice to continue its work...
It has now been ordered that no later than two business days after the date on which Congress appropriates funds for the Department of Justice, Defendants' counsel shall file a joint status report requesting revised deadlines with the Court.
Interesting to note that the presiding Judge, Claire R. Kelly, also has cases at this time with JA Solar, Jinko Solar, Boviet Solar and Camel Energy v. USA!
UPDATE DEC 10th:
The last update to the docket log is on December 5th: "Answer to Complaint (1581a only)" which seems to translate to the defendant (USA) has up to 60 days to provide an answer to the plaintiff (Maxeon Americas).
