The U.S. International Trade Commission today proposed up to 50 percent tariff-rate quotas on imports of large residential washers and associated parts, agreeing across the board on remedy types and lengths in recommendations for President Trump to consider in a Section 201 investigation.
[Isabelle Hoagland | November 21, 2017 | Inside US Trade]
The probe began after a global safeguard petition was filed in May by Whirlpool. The U.S. company claims that South Korean-based Samsung and LG have repeatedly relocated their washer production facilities to avoid antidumping duties levied by the Commerce Department.
The ITC is scheduled to send its final report, complete with all recommendations, to the president by Dec. 4. Trump will then have until Feb. 4 to make a decision on the duration and remedies to impose, if any.
The four-member Commission suggests the president impose TRQs — over a three-year period — on imports of large residential washers and asks that all imports above 1.2 million units be hit with 50 percent duties.
For imports of covered parts, to include cabinets and tub and basket assemblies, the ITC is asking the president to consider a separate TRQ with an in-quota volume level of 50,000 units. Imports exceeding this amount should be subject to a 50 percent tariff, according to the commissioners. Over the three-year period, the ITC requests that the in-quota volume level increase by 20,000 units and the tariff decrease by 5 percent.
