U.S. moves closer to antidumping duties for Chinese washers

The Commerce Department on Wednesday has preliminary determined that antidumping duties should be assessed on imports of large residential washing machines from China.    The U.S. Commerce Department on Wednesday has preliminary determined that antidumping duties should be assessed on imports of large residential washing machines from China.
   Dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in the United States at less than fair value.
   In its investigation, Commerce preliminarily found dumping has occurred by Nanjing LG-Panda, Appliances Co. Ltd. and Suzhou Samsung Electronics Co.
   The department also calculated a preliminary dumping margin of 80.49 percent for all other Chinese washer producers/exporters.
   The petitioner for this investigation is Whirlpool Corp. of Michigan.
   Commerce estimated that in 2014, imports of washing machines from China were valued at $899.4 million.
   Commerce is scheduled to announce its final determination for this antidumping investigation by Dec. 9.
   If Commerce makes an affirmative final determination and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) also makes an affirmative final determination that these imports harm domestic industry, then Commerce will issue an antidumping order. However, if either Commerce or the ITC make a negative final determination, then no antidumping orders will be issued.
   The ITC is scheduled to make its final injury determination in January 2017.