Surety Co. Seeks Over $1.5 Million From Solar Panel Importer for Unpaid Fees, Taxes, Duties
Surety company Navigators Insurance Co. is seeking over $1.5 million from importer Dehui Solar (US) over the company's failure to reimburse Navigators for customs bond payments for solar panel imports. In a complaint at the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, the surety said that Dehui Solar violated the terms of their indemnity agreement by failing to pay duties, taxes, fees or other charges related to the import activities (Navigators Insurance Co. v. Dehui Solar Power Inc., D. Del. #22-01605).
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Prior to importing the solar panels, Dehui Solar "obtained bonds from Navigators that were required by" CBP and entered into an indemnity agreement that would make the importer liable for the costs with CBP. In October 2019, Navigators issued a customs bond "in the penal sum of $900,000, on behalf of" the importer. Navigators then issued a second customs bond in February 2020 "in the penal sum of $1,100,000."
After Dehui Solar failed to pay the host of charges related to the import of the solar panels, CBP demanded that Navigators pay the duties, taxes and fees. While Dehui Solar made a $190,000 partial payment, the surety still took to the district court to seek reimbursement for the remaining payments.