The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) voted to institute an investigation of certain low-profile microwave-hood combination products. The products at issue in the investigation are described in the Commission’s notice of investigation.

The investigation is based on a complaint filed on behalf of Whirlpool Corporation of Benton Harbor, Michigan on November 18, 2025. A supplement to the complaint was filed on December 4, 2025. The complaint, as supplemented, alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain low-profile microwave-hood combination products that infringe certain claims of the patents asserted by the complainant. The complainant requests that the USITC issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders. 

The USITC has identified the following respondents in this investigation:

• Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Suwon-si, Republic of Korea
• Samsung Electronics America, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
• LG Electronics Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea
• LG Electronics USA, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
• Midea Group Co., Ltd., Foshan City, Guangdong Province, China
• Midea America Corporation, Parsippany, New Jersey
• Haier Group Corporation, Qingdao, Shandong, China
• Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. d/b/a GE Appliances, Louisville, KY
• Electrolux Professional AB, Stockholm, Sweden
• Electrolux Consumer Products, Inc., Charlotte, North Carolina
• Cosmo Products, LLC, Chino, California
• Meyer Corporation, U.S., Vallejo, California
• Koolmore Supply, Inc., Brooklyn, New York
• THOR International d/b/a THOR Kitchen, Inc., Ontario, California
• Unique Appliances Ltd., Oakville, Ontario, Canada
• CTM Household Appliances Inc., Montreal (Quebec), Canada

By instituting this investigation (337-TA-1467), the USITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case. The USITC’s Chief Administrative Law Judge will assign the case to one of the USITC’s administrative law judges (ALJ), who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing. The ALJ will make an initial determination as to whether there is a violation of section 337; that initial determination is subject to review by the Commission. 

The USITC will make a final determination in the investigation at the earliest practicable time. Within 45 days after institution of the investigation, the USITC will set a target date for completing the investigation. USITC remedial orders in section 337 cases are effective when issued and become final 60 days after issuance unless disapproved for policy reasons by the U.S. Trade Representative within that 60-day period.