China, Japan, and South Korea held their first economic dialogue in five years on Sunday, but reports suggesting they agreed to jointly counter U.S. tariffs have been dismissed by both Seoul and Tokyo.
According to Yuyuan Tantian, a Chinese state media-linked account, the three countries had agreed to jointly respond to U.S. tariffs and deepen supply chain cooperation, particularly around semiconductor raw materials and chip products. The post also claimed they would increase dialogue on export controls.
However, those assertions were quickly played down.
- A South Korean trade ministry spokesperson called the report “somewhat exaggerated” and referred media to the official joint statement.
- Japan’s Trade Minister Yoji Muto stated at a press conference that while the ministers met over the weekend, “there were no such discussions” about a joint response, describing the meeting as simply an exchange of views.
What was agreed
The three Asian economic powers agreed to:
- Speed up negotiations on a South Korea-Japan-China free trade agreement (FTA)
- Promote regional and global trade cooperation
- Strengthen supply chain coordination in key sectors
Backdrop
The meeting comes as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to announce a fresh round of tariffs on “liberation day” this Wednesday, continuing his aggressive overhaul of U.S. trade relationships. Beijing, Seoul, and Tokyo—major U.S. trading partners—are navigating these tensions while managing their own regional disputes, including issues like territorial disagreements and Japan’s Fukushima wastewater release.
