U.S. Recommends Tariffs of Up to 50% on Washing-Machine Imports -- 2nd Update
November 22 2017 - 5:34AM
Dow Jones News
By Andrew Tangel and William Mauldin
Federal trade regulators recommended that the Trump
administration impose big tariffs on imported washing machines to
protect Whirlpool Corp. and other U.S. manufacturers.
Members of the U.S. International Trade Commission, a bipartisan
agency that oversees trade, on Tuesday released three sets of
recommendations that include tariffs of 50% on imported washers
exceeding a quota of 1.2 million units annually. Their
recommendations follow their finding in October that Whirlpool and
other domestic washer makers suffered "serious injury" from a surge
of imports.
The trade commission's recommendations are expected to head to
the White House in early December. The Trump administration would
then have about two months to weigh the recommendations and decide
what, if any, new trade barriers to put in place. The
recommendations aren't binding.
The washer case is the latest in a series of trade fights
between Whirlpool and two South Korean competitors, LG Electronics
Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co.
White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said U.S. officials are
reviewing the commissioners' recommendations. "The president will
examine the facts and make a determination that reflects the best
interests of the United States," she said.
Whirlpool said it is encouraged by the trade body's
recommendations. Samsung and LG both said any new trade barriers
could limit consumer choice, increase prices and stifle U.S. job
growth.
South Korea's Trade Ministry said Wednesday it would consider
filing a formal complaint to the World Trade Organization if the
Trump administration acts in line with the recommendation. The
tariff, if applied, would "deal a big blow" to South Korean
exporters, it said.
The Trade Ministry in Seoul said after discussions with Samsung
and LG that it would cooperate with Vietnam and other washer
exporters to fight any possible U.S. violations of WTO rules.
Kwanwoo Jun in Seoul contributed to this article.
Write to Andrew Tangel at Andrew.Tangel@wsj.com and William
Mauldin at william.mauldin@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 22, 2017 05:19 ET (10:19 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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