The World Trade Organization has ruled in favor of South Korea in its suit against the United States over its anti-dumping duties on the country's washer manufacturers, the government said Saturday.

The WTO Panel has found that the 2013 U.S. measure was taken in breach of WTO rules, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The panel circulated a related report to the member states of the WTO the day.

The U.S. has 60 days to decide whether to appeal against the decision.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has imposed an anti-dumping tariff of 9-13 percent on washing machines made by Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc., arguing their "Black Friday" sales were "targeted dumping."

South Korea filed a suit with the WTO against the U.S. in 2013.

"The panel's ruling this time, which has confirmed the illegality of the U.S. anti-dumping measure, is expected to help improve export conditions of South Korea's major industries in the U.S.," the ministry said. (Yonhap)