The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) determined Thursday that two South Korean companies' washing machines manufactured in foreign countries were harming the U.S. industry.

The trade body announced the result of its four-month investigation prompted by a safeguard petition Whirlpool Corp. filed May 31 against Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc.

The appliance giant accused the Korea rivals of moving manufacturing operations to Vietnam and Thailand, respectively, to circumvent U.S. anti-dumping tariffs imposed on their large residential washers.

"The U.S. International Trade Commission has determined that large residential washers are being imported into the United States in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury, or threat of serious injury, to the domestic industry producing an article like or directly competitive with the imported article in the United States," the commission said on its website.

The decision does not affect washers made in South Korea or any other U.S. free trade partners.

The investigation will move to a remedy phase, and a public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 19.

The commission plans to announce its remedy recommendations at the conclusion of the phase, and forward them to President Donald Trump by Dec. 4.

Remedy measures may include an increase in a duty, imposition of a quota, imposition of a tariff-rate quota, trade adjustment assistance, or any combination of such actions, according to the commission.

The president is expected to make a final decision by early next year, taking into account the commission's report, industry efforts to make a positive adjustment to import competition, and factors related to the national economic interest of the U.S.

Samsung and LG exported a combined US$1 billion worth of large residential washing machines to the U.S. last year, holding some 16 percent and 13 percent, respectively, of the market led by Whirlpool with 38 percent.

Samsung Electronics expressed disappointment in the decision, claiming the ITC's decision will have an adverse impact on U.S. consumers.

"Restrictions on imports of Samsung washing machines will negatively affect American consumers by limiting choices, raising prices, and offering less innovative washing machines," Samsung said through a statement.

Samsung added the company has been delivering innovative products, which are "made by Americans, and sold to American consumers."

"We believe that safeguard remedies should not discriminate in favor of one group of U.S.-based workers over another and should not negatively impact a fair appliance marketplace for consumers," it added. (Yonhap)

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