U.S. Sets Duties on Mexican, Korean Washing-Machine Imports

The U.S. set tariffs as high as 82 percent on large, residential washers from South Korea and 72 percent on the products from Mexico, concluding the items are sold below production costs to drive out American competitors.

The Commerce Department in a preliminary finding today responded to Whirlpool Corp.’s complaint that LG Electronics Inc. and Daewoo Electronics Corp., both based in Seoul, and Samsung Electronics Co. of Suwon, South Korea, use unfair trade practices. Laundry appliances accounted for 30 percent of Whirlpool’s 2011 revenue of $18.7 billion, according to its annual report.