by Catie Owen | Jan 16, 2025 | Commercial & Industrial Solar
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the addition of 37 businesses to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List, including five linked to the solar supply chain.
Signed into law by President Joe Biden in December 2021, the UFLPA prohibits solar product imports from China’s Xinjiang region unless proven unconnected to forced labour. Beijing has consistently denied allegations of forced labour in the region.
“Effective Jan. 15, 2025, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will apply a rebuttable presumption that goods produced by the named 37 entities will be prohibited from entering the United States as a result of the companies’ activities,” stated a DHS press release.
At the time of the law’s enactment, approximately 50% of the world’s polysilicon was sourced from Xinjiang.
The newly listed companies include Donghai JA Solar Technology, Hongyuan Green Energy Co., Jiangsu Meike Solar Co., Shuangliang Silicon Materials, and Xinjiang Energy Group.
“With each addition to the UFLPA Entity List, we are building momentum and showing that our efforts are sustainable and enduring in eradicating forced labour in our nation’s supply chains,” said Acting Under Secretary for Policy Robert Paschall.
This marks the largest single update to the UFLPA list, reinforcing its enforcement against forced labour.
by Catie Owen | Nov 18, 2024 | Commercial & Industrial Solar
Maxeon Solar Technologies Ltd, a Singapore-based panel manufacturer, continues to face restrictions on importing its products from Mexico to the United States. This is due to compliance reviews under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).
Despite submitting extensive evidence to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to verify its clean supply chain, Maxeon’s residential and commercial solar panels remain detained, causing significant financial and reputational harm to the company and its U.S. customers.
Shipments of Maxeon’s Mexico-made panels have been held by CBP since July for UFLPA compliance checks.
The uncertainty surrounding the resumption of imports into its largest market forced the company to withdraw its full-year revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance.
Maxeon asserts that its supply chains do not involve China’s Xinjiang region or any entities listed under the UFLPA. CEO Bill Mulligan, who plans to retire in January 2025, expressed frustration over the delays.
“We are strong proponents of the UFLPA and have provided CBP with tens of thousands of pages of documentation, including numerous walkthroughs 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,” Mulligan adds.
The company has filed formal protests against the detentions and requested a review by a new CBP team. Mulligan concludes: “We remain optimistic that this new team will be able to expeditiously reach the right conclusion and clear our products for importation.”
