Sun Mar 30 03:45:14 UTC 2025: ## Trilateral Talks: South Korea, China, and Japan Seek to Boost Trade Amidst Trump’s Tariff Threats
**Seoul, South Korea –** South Korea, China, and Japan held their first economic dialogue in five years on Sunday, aiming to strengthen regional trade cooperation in the face of escalating U.S. tariffs. The three countries’ Trade Ministers, meeting in Seoul, agreed to pursue high-level talks on a trilateral free trade agreement (FTA) and enhance the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
The meeting comes ahead of anticipated further tariff announcements by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has already imposed tariffs on Venezuelan oil and, last week, on imported cars and auto parts. These actions pose a significant threat to Asian automakers, with South Korea and Japan being major exporters of vehicles to the U.S.
While the three Asian nations are major U.S. trading partners, bilateral relations have been strained by various issues including territorial disputes and Japan’s handling of Fukushima nuclear wastewater. Despite initiating trilateral FTA talks in 2012, substantial progress has remained elusive.
South Korean Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun stressed the importance of both strengthening RCEP and forging ahead with Korea-China-Japan FTA negotiations to expand trade cooperation. The ministers agreed to hold their next meeting in Japan. The renewed focus on economic cooperation represents a significant effort by the three nations to navigate the challenging global trade landscape shaped by rising protectionism.
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