China, Japan and South Korea to strengthen free trade
China, Japan and South Korea agreed to boost trade cooperation in a meeting in Seoul held on Sunday.
The meeting was attended by South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, his Japanese counterpart Yoji Muto, and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao.
Threat of Trump’s looming tariffs
The three Asian countries met for their first economic dialogue in five years, aiming to improve free trade in the region amid concern over US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs.
Trump has promised to levy more tariffs, which he is due to announce on Wednesday, calling it “liberation day.”
China, Japan and South Korea have heavily depended on trade partnerships with the US, even though the relations between the three countries have remained tense.
Disagreements over territorial issues have prevented the three Asian exporting powers from making any significant progress on a trilateral free-trade deal since starting talks in 2012.
