Brown: Today's Trade Decision Will Help Whirlpool Workers Compete Against Cheap Imports
U.S. International Trade Commission Ruled Today to Impose Duties on Clothes Washers from South Korea and Mexico
Brown Testified Before USITC on Behalf of Whirlpool; Company Has Largest U.S. Factory in Clyde and Facilities in Marion, Findlay, Ottawa, Greenville, and Columbus
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today applauded a unanimous decision from the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) to impose duties on clothes washers from South Korea and Mexico. Last month, Brown testified before the ITC on behalf of Ohio workers at the Whirlpool Corp. Whirlpool has facilities and distribution centers in Clyde, Marion, Findlay, Greenville, Ottawa, and Columbus. Brown met with Whirlpool employees following his testimony.
“Trade enforcement is about standing up for American jobs. Today’s victory will improve the competitiveness of Whirlpool and manufacturers around the U.S. The USITC made the right decision today in standing up against unfair and illegal trade practices,” Brown said. “Too often, countries have ignored trade laws by subsidizing domestic industries— moves that have made it harder for Ohio manufacturers to compete with cheap foreign imports. Today’s decision from the USITC levels the playing field and is another victory for Ohio workers against unfair trade.”
Brown urged the Obama Administration to investigate unfair foreign trade practices and defend manufacturing jobs at the Whirlpool Corporation, and sent a letter to the U.S. Commerce Department asking the agency to enforce trade laws that level the playing field for companies like Whirlpool.
“In order to create an environment to encourage [the] repatriation [of jobs], we must ensure that companies that do bring jobs home to the United States, such as Whirlpool, are not handicapped by unfair trade practices perpetrated by their foreign competitors,” Brown wrote in the June 2012 letter. “When companies engage in dumping and benefit from unfair foreign government subsidies, it harms American companies and workers and the communities in which they operate.”
The full text of Brown’s December 2012 testimony, as prepared for delivery, is available here.
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