South Korean washing machine manufacturers protest the US International Trade Commission's decision to issue "safeguard" import restrictions on their products.

The US ITC decided to impose additional tariffs on washer imports as a safeguard for its own industry.

Samsung said in an official statement that such restrictions will limit choices of US consumers, bringing a loss to the market.

"Today's announcement is a great loss for American consumers and workers. This tariff is a tax on every consumer who wants to buy a washing machine. Everyone will pay more, with fewer choices," Samsung said.

"Samsung greatly appreciates the support of the many South Carolina and other officials who have advocated on our behalf. We already have hired more than 600 U.S. workers at our new South Carolina factory, and we began U.S. production of our high-quality washing machines on January 12th. Consumers are choosing Samsung premium washing machines for their innovation and desig," the company added.

LG also criticized the decision, saying it will inevitably harm the local job market.

"We are very disappointed in this misguided decision, which far exceeds what the US ITC recommended," the company's US branch said. "This is a textbook case about how certain companies can game the process to use trade laws to try to accomplish what they can't accomplish in the marketplace."

The latest ITC decision will hinder operations of the company's new plant under construction in Tennessee, threatening local jobs, it said, as the operations of these factories would also be at risk, due to the ITC decision that will increase costs by far.

Both Samsung and LG export washers to the US manufactured from Vietnam and Thailand.