Washing Machine Battle Heads to President in January

Washing machine manufacturers Samsung and LG won a partial victory in the Section 201 safeguard investigation initiated by Whirlpool and GE. Whirlpool is asking for quotas and a 50 percent digressive tariff on imports of all large residential washers (LRWs) in 2018. Beginning in 2019, the rate would be reduced to 49 percent and then 48 percent in 2020. In addition, Whirlpool requests a quota on “covered parts” not to exceed the average quantity of imports of such parts over the last three years. The U.S. International Trade Commission said the proposed Whirlpool remedies would “unduly restrict competition in the U.S. market” and burden consumers and retailers.

The commission, however, rejected LG and Samsung’s request that no import restraints be imposed.