Portman, Tiberi fight for Ohio workers in illegal trade case

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) and U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH) urged the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to enforce trade laws and protect Ohio workers from unfair imports.

In 2012, the ITC ordered South Korean companies to stop unlawfully selling underpriced residential clothes washers in U.S. markets. However, the manufacturers relocated to China, avoiding the order.

The Commerce Department recently issued a preliminary ruling confirming that South Korean manufacturers continue to illegally dump clothes washers into the United States.

Testifying before the ITC on Wednesday, Portman said that Samsung and LG were already moving their production to China before a decision was reached in 2012 to continue importing washers free of duties.

“They continued to target the U.S. market and have continued to undermine Whirlpool’s investments in American plants and American jobs,” Portman said.

Portman noted that Whirlpool employs more than 10,000 workers in Ohio, including 3,000 at a facility in Clyde.

“I’m here today because this case is critical to families and communities in Ohio, and to securing future investment and job creation by companies like Whirlpool,” Portman said. “They’re doing the right thing and investing in our country, but I am concerned that, if we don’t protect them from unfair trade, they will no longer be able to do so.”

Tiberi, meanwhile, testified that Whirlpool was asking for the opportunity to compete against fairly traded imports.

“When foreign manufacturers willfully skirt regulation, they stifle innovation, investment and choice for consumers,” Tiberi said. “Samsung and LG are repeat offenders of U.S. trade laws. Whirlpool has had to come before you twice to force these competitors to sell at fair prices in the United States.”

U.S. manufacturers shouldn’t have to reduce prices below cost to compete with foreign production, Tiberi said.

“This is why we need to strictly enforce our trade laws,” Tiberi said. “Recently, Congress passed trade legislation designed to strengthen the U.S. government’s enforcement and administration of the trade laws. The commission and the Commerce Department must use the tools available to enforce free and fair trade that rewards domestic investment.”