Getting Tougher
The U.S. Department of Commerce ruled on December 9 that Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics washing machines manufactured in China were sold in the U.S. market at a dumping margin of 52.5% and 32.1%, respectively.
This determination is a result of Whirlpool’s petition submitted to the U.S. government and the International Trade Commission of the United States is scheduled to make its determination on January 23 next year. Anti-dumping tariffs are imposed on Samsung Electronics China and LG Electronics China once substantial damage is regarded has having arisen.
“The United States imposed anti-dumping duties in the past on washing machines exported from South Korea to the U.S. and the WTO ruled in favor of South Korean manufacturers at that time,” said an industry source, adding, “It seems that the U.S. government and U.S. companies are now targeting products South Korean manufacturers produced in China instead.”
These days, countries around the world are targeting South Korean companies. For example, the Chinese government is calling polysilicon into question and the European Commission imposed a provisional tariff of 12.1% on lightweight thermal paper. Thailand levied an anti-dumping duty of up to 53.8% on steel and India launched an anti-dumping investigation into toluene diisocyanate.
The South Korean government is helpless though. “The trade pressure companies are facing is supposed to be resolved by the President and the government but this cannot be anticipated at all now,” an entrepreneur commented.