The United States International Trade Commission(ITC) is set to decide on Thursday whether South Korean washing machines exported by Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics pose a threat to U.S. domestic industry.
 
If the commission finds the machine imports pose a danger to U.S. industries, U.S. authorities may choose to invoke safeguard actions, subject to approval by President Donald Trump.

That could eventually cause Samsung and LG to take a major hit in washing machine exports to the U.S., which stand at more than one trillion won annually.
 
Safeguards differ from antidumping measures in that they can be used to protect domestic industries believed to be in danger, even if exporters have not engaged in illegal activity such as dumping.