SEOUL — China, South Korea, and Japan have agreed to strengthen free trade and accelerate negotiations for a comprehensive trilateral trade agreement. This was confirmed in a joint statement following their high-level meeting in Seoul—the first in five years.
The discussion comes amid global trade disruptions, with the U.S. imposing new tariffs on various imports, including cars, trucks, and auto parts. South Korea and Japan, both major auto exporters, and China, which has also been impacted by U.S. tariffs, emphasized the need for a “predictable trade and investment environment.”
South Korean representative Ahn stressed the importance of cooperation, stating, “Today’s economic and trade environment is marked by increasing fragmentation of the global economy.”
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump plans to implement tariffs tailored to each trading partner starting April 2 but has hinted at possible “flexibility,” which eased market concerns late last week.