This week, the United States began levying ‘safeguard’ tariffs on washing machines and solar panels. The tariff on large industrial washing machines is 20% on the first 1.2 million machines, then 50% on subsequent imports. This percentage decreases to 16% and 40% by year three. The tariff on solar panels begins at 30% in the first year, and then decreases by 5% each subsequent year until the rate reaches 15%.
These tariffs arose from ADD/CVD orders on large residential washers from South Korea and Mexico. After those orders, manufacturing shifted to China. After anti-dumping orders were issued on the China origin products, production shifted to Thailand and Vietnam. These orders now apply to all washers.