Whirlpool Represents What’s Wrong With Tariffs: Scott Lincicome

Whirlpool Corp.’s website proudly states, “Started in America. Stayed in America.” The self-styled “America’s Home Appliance Company” has used this kind of patriotic framing to justify its decades-old campaign for government protection from foreign competition — protection Whirlpool has repeatedly won. The company has thus become a protectionist poster child among tariff fans in both government and the private sector.

Recent events have proven the cheerleaders right — though almost certainly not for reasons they’ll admit.

Citing “recession-level industry decline,” Whirlpool just slashed its full-year earnings guidance almost in half, suspended its dividend, suffered a 20% drop in its ...