Representatives of Samsung electronics, LG Electronics, and government agencies that deal with electronics exports met Wednesday to prepare for the U.S.'s likely imposition of trade safeguards against Korean washing machine exports.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said the government is working together with the two electronics giants to find ways of protecting them from the safeguards, while developing possible trade countermeasures.

Last week, the U.S. International Trade Commission(ITC) ruled in favor of a safeguard petition by the U.S. washing machine company Whirlpool contending Korean imports were harming U.S. industry.

U.S. trade authorities are expected to submit a set of recommended trade remedies to U.S. President Donald Trump in December, and he is widely seen as likely to approve them.