China, Japan, and South Korea recently held their first economic dialogue in five years, aiming to enhance regional trade cooperation.
Reports from a social media account linked to Chinese state media suggested that the three nations had agreed to coordinate their response to U.S. tariffs.
However, this claim was met with skepticism from both Seoul and Tokyo, with South Korea calling it “somewhat exaggerated” and Japan outright denying that such discussions took place.
The meeting focused on strengthening supply chain collaboration and increasing dialogue on export controls. According to the Chinese social media account Yuyuan Tantian, associated with China Central Television, Japan and South Korea are exploring ways to import semiconductor materials from China, while China is interested in acquiring semiconductor products from both nations.
A spokesperson from South Korea’s trade ministry clarified that while economic cooperation was discussed, there was no explicit agreement on a joint response to U.S. tariffs. Instead, he pointed to the official joint statement, which highlighted the commitment to continued economic collaboration.
Japan’s Trade Minister Yoji Muto also dismissed the notion of a coordinated response to U.S. tariffs, stating that the gathering was merely an exchange of views and did not involve any formal agreements on the matter.
One key outcome of the dialogue was a renewed commitment to accelerating negotiations on a potential free trade agreement between South Korea, Japan, and China. The joint statement emphasized the importance of maintaining and enhancing trade cooperation in the face of global economic challenges.
This meeting took place just days before an anticipated announcement by the U.S. regarding new tariffs. As major trading partners of the United States, China, Japan, and South Korea continue to navigate complex trade dynamics while also addressing their own regional tensions, including disputes over territorial issues and concerns related to Japan’s handling of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
