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News Release 22-084
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-1306
Contact: Jennifer Andberg, 202-205-1819
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty order on imports of large residential washers from China would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.
As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determination, the existing order on imports of this product from China will remain in place.
Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, Randolph J. Stayin, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the affirmative.
Today’s action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on this five-year (sunset) review.
The Commission’s public report Large Residential Washers from China (Inv. No. 731-TA-1306 (First Review), USITC Publication 5343, August 2022) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the review.
The report will be available by September 2, 2022; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library.
BACKGROUND
The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.
The Commission’s institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other information. Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review. If responses to the USITC’s notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.
The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews. Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission’s prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the review, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.
The five-year (sunset) review concerning Large Residential Washers from China was instituted on January 3, 2022.
On April 8, 2022, the Commission voted to conduct an expedited review. Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, Randolph J. Stayin, and Amy A. Karpel concluded that the domestic group response was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate and voted for an expedited review.
A record of the Commission’s vote to conduct an expedited review is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.
News Release 20-138-C
Inv. No(s). TA-201-76 (Extension)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that import relief provided to the U.S. large residential washers industry beginning in 2018 continues to be necessary to prevent or remedy serious injury to the U.S. industry, and that the domestic industry is making a positive adjustment to import competition.
The Commission will forward its report on its investigation and determination to the President by December 8, 2020. The President will make the final decision on whether to extend the import relief.
Chair Jason E. Kearns, Vice Chair Randolph J. Stayin, and Commissioners David S. Johanson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the affirmative.
The Commission’s public report Large Residential Washers (Inv. No. TA-201-076 (Extension), USITC Publication 5144, December 2020) will include the Commission’s findings and recommendations.
The report will be available by December 8, 2020 (note corrected date); when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library.
Background
On January 23, 2018, following an affirmative injury determination by the Commission under the global safeguard law, the President imposed tariff rate quotas on imports of certain large residential washers and parts thereof. The remedy took effect on February 7, 2018, for a period of three years and one day.
Unless extended, the relief action will terminate on February 7, 2021. On August 3, 2020, the Commission instituted this investigation, upon receipt of a petition filed by Whirlpool Corporation of Benton Harbor, MI, requesting an extension of the relief action.
In accordance with the safeguard law, the Commission conducted an investigation to determine whether the relief provided by the President continues to be necessary to prevent or remedy serious injury and whether there is evidence that the industry is making a positive adjustment to import competition.
News Release 19-073
Inv. No(s). TA-204-013
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today released its report on its monitoring of developments in the U.S. large residential washer industry since the President’s imposition of a safeguard measure on imports of large residential washers and certain parts thereof.
The report, Large Residential Washers: Monitoring Developments in the Domestic Industry, is available to the public via the USITC website (www.usitc.gov).
The measure took effect on February 7, 2018. The President imposed the measure after receiving a USITC determination (under section 202 of the Trade Act of 1974) that large residential washers and certain parts were being imported into the United States in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury to the domestic industry. The measure was in the form of tariff-rate quotas on imports of large residential washers and certain parts thereof for a period of three years and one day. See Proclamation 9694 of January 23, 2018.
As required by section 204(a) of the Trade Act of 1974, on February 15, 2019, the Commission instituted a mid-term review to report to the President and the Congress on the results of its monitoring of developments within the large residential washer industry since imposition of the safeguard measure.
Large Residential Washers: Monitoring Developments in the Domestic Industry (Inv. No. TA-204-013, USITC Publication 4941, August 2019) is available at https://www.usitc.gov/publications/701_731/pub4941.pdf.
News Release 17-143
Inv. No(s). TA-201-076
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that large residential washers are being imported into the United States in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury to the domestic industry producing an article like or directly competitive with the imported article.
The determination was made in the context of an investigation initiated on June 5, 2017, under section 202 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. § 2252) in response to a petition filed by Whirlpool Corporation. Information about this investigation and global safeguard investigations in general can be found here: https://www.usitc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/201_factsheet_washers_final.pdf
The Commission’s determination resulted from a 4-0 vote. Chairman Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Vice Chairman David S. Johanson, and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson and Meredith M. Broadbent made affirmative determinations.
As a result of today’s vote, the Commission will proceed to the remedy phase of the investigation. The Commission will hold a public hearing on remedy on October 19, 2017. The Commission will submit its report containing its injury determination, remedy recommendations, certain additional findings, and the basis for them to the President by December 4, 2017.
When the Commission makes an affirmative injury determination in a global safeguard investigation, it is required to make certain additional findings under the implementing statutes for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (Canada and Mexico), the U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic), the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement, the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, the Agreement between the United States of America and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area, the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement, the U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement, and the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.
Chairman Schmidtlein, Vice Chairman Johanson, and Commissioners Williamson and Broadbent made negative findings with respect to imports from Canada and Mexico and all other FTA countries.
These findings will be forwarded to the President as part of the Commission’s report.
The President, not the Commission, will make the final decision concerning whether to provide relief to the U.S. industry and the kind of relief to provide, including with respect to imports from FTA countries.
A public report concerning the investigation will be available after the Commission submits its findings and recommendations to the President.
News Release 17-008
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-1306 (Final)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of large residential washers from China that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.
All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative.
As a result of the USITC’s affirmative determinations, Commerce will issue an antidumping duty order on imports of these products from China.
The Commission’s public report Large Residential Washers from China (Investigation No. 731-TA-1306 (Final), USITC Publication 4666, January 2017) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.
The report will be available by February 15, 2017; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20436
FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS
Large Residential Washers from China
Investigation No. 731-TA-1306 (Final)
Product Description: Large residential washers are all automatic clothes washing machines, regardless of the orientation of the rotational axis of the washing drum, with a cabinet width (measured from its widest point) of at least 24.5 inches (62.23 cm) and no more than 32.0 inches (81.28 cm), except as noted below. Also covered are certain parts used in large residential washers, including cabinets, assembled tubs, assembled baskets, and any combination of such parts or subassemblies. Excluded from the scope are stacked washer-dryers that are built on a unitary frame and share a common console that controls both the washer and the dryer. Also excluded are commercial washers that are designed for the “pay per use” market that incorporate electronics for payment systems. Further excluded are washers that have drivetrains using belts, and extra wide, front loading washers with a horizontal rotational axis. Large residential washers are principally used in households for washing clothes.
Status of Proceedings:
1. Type of investigation: Final antidumping.
2. Whirlpool Corp., Benton Harbor, MI.
3. Investigation instituted by USITC: December 16, 2015.
4. USITC hearing: December 7, 2016.
5. USITC vote: January 10, 2017.
6. USITC notification of Department of Commerce: January 30, 2017.
U.S. Industry:
1. Number of U.S. producers in 2015: 4.
2. Location of producers’ plants: Kentucky, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
3. Employment of production and related workers in 2015: [1]
4. U.S. producers’ U.S. shipments in 2015: 1
5. Apparent U.S. consumption in 2015: 1
6. Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption in 2015: 1
U.S. Imports in 2015:
1. From the subject country during 2015: 1
2. From other countries during 2015: 1
3. Leading sources during 2015: 1
[1] Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.
News Release 16-016
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-1306 (Preliminary)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of large residential washers from China that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.
All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative.
As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determination, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its investigation on imports of these products from China, with its preliminary antidumping duty determination due on or about May 24, 2016.
The Commission’s public report Large Residential Washers from China (Investigation No. 731-TA-1306 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4591, February 2016) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.
The report will be available after February 29, 2016. After that date, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Office of Industries
Washington, DC 20436
FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS
Large Residential Washers from China
Investigation No. 731-TA-1306 (Preliminary)
Product Description: Large residential washers (LRWs) are automatic clothes washing machines, regardless of the orientation of the rotational axis (horizontal or vertical) of the laundry drum, with a cabinet width (measured from its widest point) of at least 24.5 inches (62.23 cm) and no more than 32.0 inches (81.28 cm). Also included are certain parts of LRWs, namely cabinets, tubs, baskets, and combinations of such parts. In this instance, LRWs exclude the following products: (1) stacked washer-dryers that have a washing and drying machines built on a unitary frame and share a common control console; (2) commercial washers with electronics for payment; (3) certain low technology top loading or front loading washers that have a drive train using belts; and (4) extra-wide, front loading washers with a horizontal rotational axis and a cabinet width of more than 28.5 inches (72.39 cm). LRWs are used in residences for washing clothes.
Status of Proceedings:
1. Type of investigation: Preliminary antidumping duty.
2. Petitioner: Whirlpool Corp., Benton Harbor, MI.
3. Preliminary investigation instituted by the USITC: December 16, 2015.
4. Commission’s conference: January 6, 2016.
5. USITC vote: January 29, 2016.
6. USITC determination to the U.S. Department of Commerce: February 1, 2016.
7. USITC views to the U.S. Department of Commerce: February 8, 2016.
U.S. Industry:
1. Number of producers in 2014: Four.[1]
2. Location of producers’ plants: Kentucky, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
3. Employment of production and related workers in 2014: [2]
4. Apparent U.S. consumption in 2014: 2
5. Ratio of the value of total U.S. imports to total U.S. consumption in 2014: 2
U.S. Imports:
1. From the subject countries during 2014: 2
2. From other countries during 2014: 2
3. Leading sources during 2014: 2
[1] The most recent full year of data is 2014, and the period of investigation is 2012–September 2015.
[2] Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.