On January 14, 2021, President Donald Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation announcing that the United States was extending safeguard measures, in the form of tariff-rate quotas (TRQs), on imports of large residential washers and various washer parts for an additional two years. Pursuant to Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974, President Trump implemented TRQs on Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) subheadings 8450.11.00 and 8450.20.00 for washers and on HTS subheadings 8450.90.20 and 8450.90.60 for certain washer parts. For background on the original Section 201 investigation and the implementation of TRQs, see Update of January 23, 2018. See also the U.S. Trade International Trade Commission’s report on the U.S. domestic washer industry, “Large Residential Washers: Monitoring Developments in the Domestic Industry,” Investigation No. TA-204-013).
The TRQs were schedule to expire in February 2021. However, under the Presidential Proclamation, the TRQs — which range from 16% to 50%, depending on import volumes and the year — will remain in effect for another two years (except for such products and parts from Canada and certain WTO-member developing countries). President Trump determined that “the action continues to be necessary to prevent or remedy the serious injury to the domestic washers industry” as it makes a positive adjustment to import competition.