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Provision Solar, Inc. owner Marco Mangelsdorf on the government charging the company a retroactive tariff on Chinese solar products the company bought...
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Send you -- your tax rate was hi how 253.
Pretty -- and what exactly the -- The government is charging a solar company Rex.
Lee provisioned solar purchase solar cells made in China.
They were cheaper it made sense but when an American manufacturer complained to the Commerce Department order mart Marco mangled store got -- Huge abilities here now he is fighting back.
This crazy story in my mind.
See you paid.
54000.
Dollars for solar panels from China because they were cheaper right as I have that's how this whole thing got started.
I'm -- -- -- so much for having me that's correct I was able actually had a need for a lower cost option.
When the American solar modules that I usually.
Took advantage -- terms of getting a from a certain supplier they weren't available.
At that particular time and I need to select elsewhere and -- place that single order of a little over 54000 acre.
So they weren't even available I mean it's not like you had a choice at that moment in time you had -- that you had CU -- fail in so you don't mean you're in Hawaii you look to Asia.
You got the solar panels from there how long was it before you found out that something was wrong.
Well there was a a complaint essentially that was lodged to back by one of the American actually German days solar manufacturers and has a facility in Hillsboro or again.
Back in October.
-- last fall and I was aware of this action.
Pending essentially but.
When I placed my order and when I received it in early march there was not yet any.
Determination or any announcement from the just karma Department of Commerce.
Regarding what is any type of tariffs they were going to find so after I received my order in early march that's when the hammer sort of fall.
In a late march and then again in May.
And -- came back to you and they said we are -- following you on this 54000 dollar order we want you to pay us the government.
A 138000.
Dollars that's where we got that -- under 53%.
-- to the -- the government as a tariff because you bought these cheaper panels look through your mind what did you think.
-- pain big time that I mean to have to pay that kind of duty.
Which I was given essentially ten days to do so when I heard from US customs and Honolulu.
I looked into every conceivable option spoke to number of lawyers spoke to colleagues in the industry.
And I packed had were essentially had no way out other than to pay the money painless.
Well I I -- -- -- -- high risk falling into what I call the black hole of liquidated damages.
And that distancing and you very safe place for my business so silly I didn't get now you're fighting back.
Correct there's the international trade commission was I attended a hearing -- -- testimony today in fact in Washington.
Because the trade commission has the authority to modify.
And essentially overturn.
These findings -- critical circumstances which would get me off the hook and a bunch of -- and -- my money back.
And never complain really is that this was Chinese dumping that the use this Chinese company dumped panels here at a ridiculously low price for these other companies couldn't possibly compete with.
That it's unfair trade practices and you should've known that you shouldn't have bought it from them.
Solar world as the other company and this like trying crazy -- the company India decide this -- -- they have.
2700.
Employees they are the largest manufacturer they've been in business for 35 years for this huge company coming after you you have twenty employees.
You're the little guy who's trying to make some money here and they're coming after you.
I mean what would you say to America about this situation you feel like you've been wrong.
Well I want to make clear that I don't consider the solar -- came after me specifically.
It was essentially a broad indictment against Chinese solar manufacturers across the board and I have a do business is one of them.
And should.
I certainly feel that's 253%.
Plus -- to be highly punitive.
And -- and it is a very very hyper competitive market out there amongst various manufactures and different parts of the globe so.
I like -- -- I'm hopeful that's the trade commission will.
See things my way our way they don't -- your money back you have to fire people what you have to do.
Well I really hope that's not the case.
I mean we'll take a huge chunk out of what would have been my tax excuse me -- -- would -- my your profits this year that.
But I am I'm still very hopeful that there won't lead -- actual any lesson employment market we're out of time I hope you'll come back and tell us what happens.
Thank you so much --
