The trade ruling means additional duties or taxes will be applied to washers imported from China into the United States. Supporters of the company say Samsung and LG have “dumped” unfairly priced washing machines into the U.S.
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In August 2016, Whirlpool announced plans to nearly double its distribution size at its Greenville operation, which ships all of the company’s KitchenAid small appliances.
That was the second expansion at the Greenville location in recent years. Earlier in 2016, the company opened its $40 million, 218,000-square-foot expansion to the manufacturing side of the building.
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The commission voted to impose final duties on the products of up to 52.5 percent following a Commerce Department probe last year, according to media reports.
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Whirlpool had sought the investigation over imports of washers manufactured in China by two South Korean companies, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and LG Electronics Inc., according to Reuters news service.
“This (ITC) decision is a step in the right direction in ensuring that Whirlpool’s workers in Ohio get a fair shake against unfair imports,” Sen. Rob Portman said in a statement. “Having been to the Clyde plant that makes these washing machines, I know that the workers there make a world-class product as efficiently as anyone, and with a level playing field can compete and win.”
“This decision will level the playing field for Whirlpool workers in Clyde and across Ohio whose jobs have been threatened for years by dumped washing machine imports from China,” Sen. Sherrod Brown said in the same release “Providing relief from unfair trade practices helps protect jobs.”
Both senators testified before the ITC last month urging the commission “to make a favorable determination in the case to ensure that anti-dumping duties would be applied to Chinese washer imports,” the statement said.
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