WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) applauded news that the International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled that workers at Whirlpool’s Clyde plant had been hurt by unfair washing machine imports by Samsung and LG. Now that ITC has ruled in favor of Whirlpool, Brown is calling on ITC and President Trump to make a strong recommendation that will provide broad relief for the U.S. washing machine industry in response to the pattern of violations by companies like LG and Samsung.

“We can’t let LG and Samsung get away with dumping their washers into the U.S. and hurting Ohio workers,” said Brown. “The President and ITC must make a strong recommendation that provides real relief for workers in Clyde and around the U.S. who’ve been hurt by this surge of cheap washers.”

The case sought broad relief for the U.S. washing machine industry in response to the pattern of violations by companies like LG and Samsung who’ve repeatedly exported their washers to the U.S. at unfair prices. Now, ITC will vote on a remedy in November and make a recommendation to President Trump in December.

Brown testified at ITC on behalf of Whirlpool, and urged ITC to take make this positive ruling. Brown visited Clyde and met with its workers last month.

Since 2012, Brown and Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) have fought against these unfair trade practices that have harmed Whirlpool, and most recently helped secure relief in a case against washing machine imports from China. Brown had called on ITC to make this ruling and testified at the case’s final hearing in December 2016. Brown visited the plant last week.  

Brown’s legislation, the Leveling the Playing Field Act, signed into law in June 2015, has restored strength to antidumping and countervailing duty statutes that allow businesses and workers in the United States to petition the Commerce Department and the ITC when foreign producers sell goods in the U.S. below market price or receive illegal subsidies. The law led to key wins for Ohio steel companies in major trade cases last year on cold-rolled, hot-rolled, and corrosion-resistant steel, including U.S. Steel, Nucor, ArcelorMittal, and AK Steel, which together employ more than 8,200 Ohio workers.

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