US slaps 'America First' tariffs on washing machines and solar panels

[bostonangler]

The US has approved controversial tariffs on imported washing machines and solar panels.

The move is in line with President Donald Trump's "America First" trade policy, which aims to protect local manufacturers from foreign competition.

A spokesman said the administration would "always defend American workers, farmers, ranchers and businessmen".

But China and South Korea, whose manufacturers will be most heavily affected, criticised the move.

US officials said more trade enforcement actions would follow.

 

Media captionDonald Trump inauguration: 'America first, America first'

Mr Trump has talked about taking the action ever since coming to office. In his inauguration speech a year ago he promised to protect US borders from other countries "making our products, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs".

The actions are being seen as the president's most significant trade moves since his decision to pull the US out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal (TPP) and renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta).

Why have the tariffs been imposed?

The tougher policy was approved by President Trump after the US International Trade Commission (ITC) found local manufacturers were being hurt by cheaper imports.

Manufacturing companies - Whirlpool, a US-based maker of washing machines, and the solar firms Suniva and Solar World Americas - had complained to the ITC and it found in their favour.

The tariffs set on solar panels were lower than domestic US producers had hoped for, but the duties on washing machines and parts were steeper than expected - adding as much as 50% in some cases, according to US documents.

• Is Trump the WTO's biggest threat?
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• What is the World Trade Organization?

How will the tariffs work?

The first 1.2 million imported large residential washing machines in the first year will have a 20% tariff imposed on them, while there will be a 50% tariff on machines above that number.

By the third year, these will drop to 16% and 40% respectively.

Figures suggest that in 2010, 1.6 million washing machines were imported to the US.

Meanwhile, the tariff increase on imported solar cells and modules in the first year will be 30%, falling to 15% by the fourth year, although 2.5 gigawatts (GW) of imported cells - enough for about 11.5 million panels - will be allowed in tariff-free annually.

The ITC said that China had been selling "artificially low-priced" solar components in the US, assisted by state subsidies.

What has the reaction been?

US appliance maker Whirlpool, which for years has sought protection against cheaper imports from South Korea and Mexico, welcomed the move.

Image copyright Getty Images

"This announcement caps nearly a decade of litigation and will result in new manufacturing jobs in Ohio, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee," chairman Jeff Fettig said in a statement.

Shares in Whirlpool rose 2.5% on the news, and it immediately announced it would employ 200 more people. Shares in US solar panel manufacturers also went up.

Environmentalists argue that making solar panels more expensive risks holding back the development of renewable energy in the country.

China and South Korea have reacted angrily to the news.

South Korea said it would complain to the World Trade Organization (WTO), calling the tariffs "excessive" and "regrettable". Its manufacturers, including Samsung and LG, compete in the washing machine market with US firms such as Whirlpool.

Samsung called the tariffs "a tax on every consumer who wants to buy a washing machine".

Meanwhile China, the world's biggest solar panel manufacturer, said the move would further damage the global trade environment.

China is the US's biggest trading partner and government spokesman Wang Hejun said that Beijing expressed "strong dissatisfaction" with the plans.

He warned that "together with other WTO members, China will resolutely defend its legitimate interests" adding that the plans "not only aroused the concern of many trading partners but was also strongly opposed by many local governments and downstream enterprises in the US

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

***///

 

MAGA !  America 1st !   

 

Truth be known, we could probably lock down the entire Country and survive just fine.

We are resilient !  We would adjust and do great !

If it took a closed society to prove to these foreign abusers that we are a FREE & INDEPENDENT Republic, we easily could.

 

But it has always been our policy to help the less fortunate, so that won't happen.  

 

SO keep your cheap-azz junk n' crap & keep your potential leftist-voters at home... we don't want - nor need - either !

 

.

[Shabibilicious]

A "Made in America" Whirlpool machine will clean this much better anyways.  

 

 

GO RV, then BV

[Muleslayer]

[Shabibilicious]

7 hours ago, Muleslayer said:

 

Chinese made Troll Spray, no doubt.    Buy American, Mule.  

 

GO RV, then BV

[bostonangler]

Why would someone who supports America First, not want stuff made in America? Mule seems to be okay with wardrobes and accessories made by fine Chinese tailors.

 

B/A

[Muleslayer]

15 hours ago, Shabibilicious said:

 

Chinese made Troll Spray, no doubt.    Buy American, Mule.  

 

GO RV, then BV

[Muleslayer]

15 hours ago, bostonangler said:

Why would someone who supports America First, not want stuff made in America? Mule seems to be okay with wardrobes and accessories made by fine Chinese tailors.

 

B/A

If you want to come out of the closet that is none of my concern.

just get the heck out of my closet! Ya jack wagon!

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

7 hours ago, Muleslayer said:

If you want to come out of the closet that is none of my concern.

just get the heck out of my closet! Ya jack wagon!

***/// MAGA!

 

[Shabibilicious]

8 hours ago, Muleslayer said:

 

You find a little extra Yuan in your pocket?......Or'd you get a twofer special?  

 

GO RV, then BV

[umbertino]

 

January 26, 2018 9:30 AM CST By Harvey “Sluggo” Wasserman

 

 

 

Solar power's brightest days are still ahead of it. | Katie Putz / Courtesy of RENEW Wisconsin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.peoplesworld.org/article/trumps-assault-on-solar-masks-epic-crisis-in-the-nuclear-industry/