Velenje, 01 February (STA) - Slovenian household appliance maker Gorenje will continue to export its washers to the US tariff-free despite the US having recently introduced steep tariffs on imported washers, the company said on Thursday.
Gorenje exports washing machines to the US under its premium Asko brand and its US distributor has determined after examining the documentation that the tariffs will not apply.
The company did not specify why it will be exempted from the tariff, but a closer look at the washers it sells in the US revealed size may be the reason.
The tariff applies to "large residential washers", defined as being between 62.2 and 81.3 centimetres wide; the two models of washing machines on sale in Asko's online shop in the US are narrower.
Gorenje does not disclose the value of sales in the US or the share of washers in US sales.
The annual report for 2016 reveals that overseas markets accounted for EUR 112m in sales, the largest among them the US and Australia.
Unofficial information suggests US sales were at about EUR 40m, of which washers are said to account for EUR 5-10m.
The US put in place a 20% tariff on the first 1.2 million imported washers during the first year, and a 50% tariff on any machines above that number. The rates drop to 16% and 40% respectively in the third year.