The United States is investigating Whirlpool Corp.’s complaint over washing machines made in South Korea and Mexico, which said the two nations are selling the products below cost to Americans.
In a statement obtained by Bloomberg News, the U.S. Department of Commerce said Whirlpool is alleging that South Korean producers are selling washing machines between 31 and 82 percent below fair market value. At the same time, Mexican producers are selling their products 27 to 72 percent lower than their American counterparts.
Whirlpool filed the complaint “to promote a fair and open global trading system, to protect American jobs, and ensure its ability to continue to innovate and invest in the United States,” according to the news agency.
South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade objected to Whirlpool’s claims, telling Reuters it “raised strong objections to the unfairness” of the investigation.
“In addition, (the ministry) will call on the U.S. side to proceed with fair and objective probes,” it added.
