Whirlpool wins 'dumping' ruling against Korean appliance makers

Whirlpool, which has a major appliance manufacturing plant in Amana, on Wednesday won a victory in its trade dispute with three South Korean appliance manufacturers.

The U.S. Commerce Department on Wednesday announced a preliminary finding that Seoul-based LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics of Suwon, South Korea, and Daewoo Electronics Corp. sell washing machines to U.S. customers for less it costs to produce them.

Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool on Dec. 30 filed a  complaint regarding the three Korean companies' washing machine sales in the U.S.

The Commerce Department is proposing duties of as much as 71 percent on large, residential washing machines made by LG, Samsung and Daewoo in South Korea, concluding that government subsidies for the goods undercut U.S. producers.

Daewoo was told to pay 71 percent, Samsung 1.2 percent and LG Electronics 0.22 percent on their portions of $569 million in annual imports from South Korea. The duty set for Seoul-based Daewoo reflects the company's refusal to respond to the U.S. investigation, the agency said.

Whirlpool rose as much as 5 percent, to $64.41, in New York Stock Exchange composite trading after the announcement.

The Commerce Department and the U.S. International Trade Commission are expected to make a final determination on the trade dispute later this year.