WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) applauded the news that safeguard tariffs to ensure Whirlpool and its workers get sufficient relief from unfair trade practices of foreign competitors have been extended. In November, Brown testified on behalf of Ohio Whirlpool workers, urging the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to recommend the Administration extend safeguard tariffs

“For too long, bad actors have manipulated trade laws and gained an unfair advantage that hurts American workers, like Whirlpool workers in Clyde. Today’s announcement will ensure Ohio workers can continue to compete on a level playing field, boost the local economy and show other countries that we will hold them accountable when they cheat,” said Brown.

Brown has led efforts with Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) to help Whirlpool workers in Clyde. Brown also sent a letter to the International Trade Commission (ITC) urging them to support an extension of the current washing machine safeguard.

Since 2012, Brown has worked to level the playing field for Whirlpool workers by cracking down on countries that unfairly import their products into the U.S. at the expense of American workers.

In September 2017, Brown testified on behalf of Ohio Whirlpool workers in a trade case at the International Trade Commission (ITC). In October, the ITC ruled in favor of Whirlpool. Following the ITO ruling, Brown and Portman sent a letter to U.S. Trade Ambassador Robert Lighthizer urging trade relief for Ohio Whirlpool workers.

In 2012 and again in 2017, Brown visited the Whirlpool plant in Clyde to tour the facility and meet with workers. Brown also spoke with Clyde Whirlpool workers on his podcast.

In October 2016, Brown and Portman wrote to then-U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, urging her to take action against the flood of unfairly traded washing machine imports that are harming U.S. manufacturers and their workers, including the Whirlpool plant in Clyde.

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-rolledhot-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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