UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) January 22, 2018
WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as Specified in Charter)
| Delaware | 1-3932 | 38-1490038 | ||
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||
2000 North M-63, Benton Harbor, Michigan | 49022-2692 | |||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |||
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (269) 923-5000
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ¨
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Item 8.01 Other Events
On January 22, 2018, the U.S. Trade Representative announced that President Trump will sign a remedy order in the safeguard petition filed by Whirlpool Corporation (the “Company”) with the U.S. International Trade Commission in May 2017. Effective for three years, the President’s remedy order imposes a 20% tariff on the first 1.2 million large residential washing machines imported by Samsung and LG during the first year, and a 50% tariff on large residential washer imports by Samsung and LG in excess of 1.2 million. The President's remedy order also imposes a 50% tariff on washer tub, drum, and cabinet imports in excess of 50,000 annually. The tariff rates on washers and parts decline slightly during the second and third years of the remedy.
The President’s remedy order will take effect 15 days after the President signs the order.
The Company maintains a website with information on its prior and current fair trade actions at Whirlpoolcorp.com/fair-trade. The Company has disclosed and intends to disclose important information related to the safeguard petition on this website from time to time.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION | ||||
| Date: January 23, 2018 | By: | /s/ BRIDGET K. QUINN | ||
| Name: | Bridget K. Quinn | |||
| Title: | Corporate Secretary and Group Counsel | |||