The three countries’ Ministers met ahead of Trump’s
announcement on April 2, 2025, of more tariffs in what he calls “liberation
day”, as he upends Washington’s trading partnerships.
South Korea, China and Japan
held their first economic dialogue in five years on Sunday (March 30, 2025),
seeking to facilitate regional trade as the three Asian export powers brace
from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs.The
three countries' Trade Ministers agreed to "closely cooperate for a
comprehensive and high-level" talks on a South Korea-Japan-China free
trade agreement deal to promote "regional and global trade", according
to a statement released after the meeting. "It is necessary to
strengthen the implementation of RCEP, in which all three countries have
participated, and to create a framework for expanding trade cooperation among
the three countries through Korea-China-Japan FTA negotiations," said
South Korean Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun, referring to the Regional
Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
The Ministers met ahead of Mr.
Trump's announcement on Wednesday (April 2, 2025) of more tariffs in what he
calls "liberation day", as he upends Washington's trading
partnerships.Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo
are major U.S. major trading partners, although they have been at loggerheads
among themselves over issues including territorial disputes and Japan's release
of wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant. They have not
made substantial progress on a trilateral free-trade deal since starting talks
in 2012.
RCEP, which went into force in
2022, is a trade framework among 15 Asia-Pacific countries aimed at lowering
trade barriers.
Mr. Trump
announced 25% import tariffs on cars and auto parts last week, a move that may hurt
companies, especially Asian automakers, which are among the largest vehicle
exporters to the U.S. After Mexico, South Korea is
the world's largest exporter of vehicles to the United States, followed by
Japan, according to data from S&P.
The Ministers agreed to hold
their next ministerial meeting in Japan.