Whirlpool Flags Possible Tariff Evasion By Foreign Competitors

Core Viewpoint - Whirlpool Corp is raising concerns with the Trump administration regarding widespread tariff evasion by foreign competitors, which it claims undermines U.S. manufacturing [1][5]. Group 1: Tariff Evasion Claims - Whirlpool alleges that numerous foreign manufacturers are undervaluing their imports to avoid tariffs, based on federal import data [1][2]. - A significant decline in declared customs values for various appliances was noted, with garbage disposals from China dropping from an average of $21 to under $8, gas ranges from Thailand falling to $175, and washing machines from South Korea plummeting from $838 to $73 [3]. Group 2: Company Position and Actions - Whirlpool produces 80% of its U.S.-bound appliances domestically and suspects competitors like Samsung, LG, and Haier of undervaluing imports [4]. - The company has communicated its concerns to U.S. Customs and Border Protection but has not yet filed a formal complaint [5]. Group 3: Financial Performance - In July, Whirlpool reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.34, missing the consensus estimate of $1.78, with sales of $3.77 billion also falling short of the $3.89 billion estimate [8]. - The company lowered its EPS guidance from $8.75 to a range of $5.00 to $7.00, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.81, and adjusted its EPS guidance from $10 to between $6.00 and $8.00, against a consensus of $9.23 [9].