Free and Fair Trade

As a result of petitions filed by Whirlpool in 2011 and 2015, the International Trade Commission (ITC) determined that Samsung, LG and Electrolux violated U.S. and international trade laws by dumping large residential washers into the U.S. at below-cost prices. The ITC implemented antidumping duties on certain washers imported from South Korea, Mexico, and China, and countervailing duties on certain washers from South Korea.

Whirlpool then filed a safeguard petition in May 2017 to address our concerns that Samsung and LG are evading U.S. trade laws by moving production from countries covered by antidumping orders. A safeguard remedy went into effect in February 2018, implementing tariffs on finished washers and certain covered parts until February 2021. The safeguard remedy capped off a decade-long effort to prevent foreign competitors from circumventing U.S. trade laws. The ITC is responsible for monitoring the impact of the safeguard remedy and conducted a review during 2019. Following that review, the President modified the order in December 2019 to ensure it remains effective. On August 3, 2020, Whirlpool filed a petition with the ITC seeking an extension of the safeguard because the remedy continues to be necessary to prevent and remedy the actions of foreign competitors. On November 25, 2020 the ITC made a unanimous affirmative determination that the safeguard remedy should be extended. On December 8, 2020, the ITC issued a report to the President recommending a two year extension of the safeguard remedy that would maintain tariffs on finished washers and certain covered parts. On January 14, 2021, the President signed an order extending the safeguard remedy for two years, until February 2023.

On March 29, 2019, the ITC voted 5-0 to extend antidumping duties on large residential washer imports from Mexico. The ITC also voted to end antidumping and countervailing duties on large residential washer imports from South Korea. Samsung and LG have shifted large residential washer production out of South Korea. This decision concludes a review that required the ITC to determine whether the orders are still needed to prevent unlawful dumping and subsidization of washers from Mexico and South Korea.

The ITC’s determination is limited to the Mexico and South Korea antidumping and countervailing duty orders.  Importantly, the global safeguard remedy remains in effect. The vast majority of large residential washers imported into the U.S. are covered by the safeguard tariffs, which is in effect until February 2021 unless it is extended (see above).