However, top trade ministers from China, Japan and South Korea committed to beef up regional economic cooperation as they prepare for an expected increase in tariffs by US President Donald Trump.
The meeting, which took place in Seoul, was the first US-ROK-Japan high-level economic dialogue in five years. South Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, Japanese Trade Minister Yoji Muto and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao agreed to expedite talks for a South Korea-Japan-China free trade agreement (FTA).
“Implementation of RCEP should be taken further and Korea-China-Japan FTA negotiations should be securely set up for trade expansion,” Minister Ahn emphasized, referring to a 15-country free trade pact, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. 
This move comes just ahead of Republican President Donald Trump, who has said he plans to reveal further tariffs on April 2 — a day he dubbed “Liberation Day.” He also slapped a 25 per cent tariff on imported cars and auto parts last week, a move that could be devastating for Asian car makers, among the top exports to the US.
Despite yearslong, deeply ingrained geopolitical animosities, including a territorial feud and Japan’s Fukushima wastewater release, the three countries are committed to forging ahead with trade negotiations. They have agreed to convene conferences in Japan for the next ministerial meeting, indicating that they will continue to reinforce their counterbalance to Washington’s shifting trade policies.
