Whirlpool Alleges Samsung, LG are Dumping Clothes Washers in the U.S.

Whirlpool Corp. (WHR: Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances. ) has filed petitions with the Commerce Department and International Trade Commission alleging Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (SSNHY, 005930.SE) and LG Electronics Inc. (066570.SE) have undermined competition by dumping their residential clothes washers from South Korea and Mexico in the U.S.

The petitions from the appliance maker, whose brands also include KitchenAid and Maytag, follow a similar action taken in March in regard to refrigerators.

The company said it seeking enforcement of U.S. and international trade laws.

"When foreign manufacturers are permitted to dump products into the United States, it undermines competition," said Marc Bitzer, president of Whirlpool North America. "It is important for an open global trading system to have a process for enforcement to maintain the integrity of the system and provide all manufacturers a level playing field on which to compete."

Samsung and LG representatives weren't immediately available for comment.

Whirlpool produces its clothes washers in Clyde, Ohio, and the plant employs more than 3,500 workers.

In October, the U.S. Commerce Department made preliminary determinations on the antidumping duties it will set on refrigerators from South Korea and Mexico. For South Korean producers, Commerce set a duty ranging from 0% to 32.2%, depending on the manufacturer. For refrigerator makers in Mexico, the duty ranges from 16.44% to 36.65%.

Last month, Moody's Investors Service lowered its outlook on Whirlpool from positive to stable, citing weakening global demand trends. The credit-rating firm affirmed Whirlpool's Baa3 rating, which is one notch above junk-rating territory.

Whirlpool reported in October its third-quarter earnings more than doubled, but the company announced a cost-reduction plan as sales grew slower than expected.