The economic and trade chiefs of South Korea, China, and Japan are meeting in Seoul to discuss trade cooperation among the three countries. This meeting of the three countries’ ministers of economy and trade is being held for the first time in over five years since the Beijing meeting in December 2019.
According to the government on the 27th, the 30th meeting of the ministers of economy and trade of South Korea, China, and Japan in Seoul will be attended by Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy An Duk-geun, Minister Wang Wentao of China’s Ministry of Commerce, and Minister Yoshihide Muto of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
The three are expected to discuss the negotiations on the South Korea-China-Japan Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the development of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and cooperation for supply chain stability, based on the agreements made at the summit held last May.
As U.S. President Donald Trump has announced tariffs by sector and country expected on the 2nd of next month, there is growing interest in what discussions South Korea, China, and Japan will have. Previously, Japan's Kyodo News reported that "the meeting of the ministers of economy and trade of South Korea, China, and Japan aims to reaffirm the promotion of free trade in East Asia amid concerns over the rise of protectionism such as tariff increases by the Donald Trump administration."
Meanwhile, South Korea, China, and Japan plan to hold individual bilateral meetings as well. South Korea will meet with the minister of China’s Ministry of Commerce on the 29th and with the minister of economy, trade, and industry of Japan on the 30th. The minister of China’s Ministry of Commerce and the minister of economy, trade, and industry of Japan will also hold talks on the 30th.