The centenary -old American device manufacturer, known for its washers, dryers and other home appliances, says that Trump’s tariffs can give it a leg on the contestants who rely very much on imports.
The American manufacturer of home, kitchen and laundry equipment says it makes 80% of its products in the US, where it operates 10 factories.
Jason Abert, senior vice president of North American Manufacturing at Whirlpool, told CBS News, “You are completely proud to know that it was built in America, Ohio, and in these small communities, which was described by Jason Abert, senior vice president of North American manufacturing in Whirlpool.
Ebert hopes that the company’s large domestic manufacturing footprints give it a place for success among the Trump administration Trade warPresident Trump has said that he is using tariffs as a tool to revive the American industry, limiting the ability to reduce domestic manufacturers at the cost of importers.
Ebert said its American factory is well deployed to handle the increase in demand.
“When the factory we want, coming out of the factory of one unit every three seconds,” he said.
He said that the company’s clides, ohio, factory are currently not running on capacity, as the customer’s demand does not need to be commissioned to be able to make it capable of making it.
“We have seen a decline in the volume in the last three to four years,” Abert said.
He credits a sales dip for the ability of foreign competitors – including South Korea’s LG and Samsung to reduce the US prices of Whirlpool using cheap imported steel.
Whirlpool, on the contrary, 96% of the metal source for domestic products from the US, is leading to high prices for American consumers, according to Abert.
For this reason, whirlpool hopes that President Trump 50% tariff on imported steel and aluminum The company will allow better competing with LG and Samsung’s choice.
Pay penalty on steel
“Our competition abroad, really only to raw materials – bus steel and resin – when the tariff is in place, they have to pay that fine,” said Abert. “They are either going to earn less money or they have to charge more for the consumer.”
“This is our price to us,” said Abert.
Tariff on imported washing machine during President Trump first term Increasing prices on washing machines increased domestic manufacturing by an average by $ 86 Research From the University of Chicago and Federal Reserve.
If the demand for domestic -made equipment increases, Ebert said that whirlpool is ready to use more machines.
He also said that the company is using AI to make its workers more efficient, without changing them, to reduce labor costs.
