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China-Japan-Korea

The governments of China, South Korea and Japan are expected to commence negotiations on an eventual trilateral free trade agreement between the three countries during 2012 by first concluding bilateral agreements.

In December 2011, the three countries held a final joint study meeting on the feasibility of an FTA among them.

In January 2012, the South Korean and Chinese presidents announced that they would move towards negotiating a bilateral agreement between the two countries. In March 2012, the three countries concluded an investment agreement among themselves which is viewed as a step towards a more comprehensive FTA. In May 2012, China and Korea held their first round of negotiations towards an FTA in Beijing.

Negotiations on a Japan-Korea bilateral FTA, which stalled in 2004, despite several attempts to revive them, have to contend with unresolved tensions stemming from the Japanese occupation of Korea in the first half of the 20th century and Japanese resistance to lowering tariffs on agricultural imports. Any eventual FTA between China, South Korea and Japan needs to be seen in the context of ongoing economic and political rivalry between China and the USA, as Washington pursues plans to create a new regional free trade and investment agreement by joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

last update: May 2012
Photo: KOREA.NET - Official page of the Republic of Korea / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0


S Korea, China, Japan trade ministers see investment pact in ’10
Trade ministers of South Korea, China and Japan are targeting to conclude an investment agreement among the three countries this year in order to promote tripartite economic and trade cooperation, Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Sunday.
Korea-China FTA - The Deal Needs Steps to Protect Farmers, Small Firms
A Korea-China free trade agreement will be a definite plus for the country at least statistically. The governing camp must risk in losing votes from angry farmers, fishermen and small-and medium-sized manufacturing companies.
Tokyo-Seoul FTA cornerstone of E. Asia community
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has recently said that there are three key policy issues in the area of diplomacy that he intends to tackle while he is in office. One of them is signing a free trade agreement with South Korea.
Seoul to lead study on East Asia FTA
The government said yesterday Korea would take the initiative in discussions on integrating the East Asian economies and push for a trilateral free trade agreement between Korea, China and Japan.
Seoul to lead study on East Asia FTA
The government said yesterday Korea will take the initiative in discussions on integrating East Asian economies and push for a trilateral free trade agreement between Korea, China and Japan.
China, S Korea, Japan to hold preliminary meeting on free trade pact
A trilateral meeting among three Northeast Asian countries is slated for Tuesday in Seoul as the three countries seek to launch a joint research on a free trade pact, Seoul’s trade ministry said Monday.
South Korea, Japan to hold free trade negotiations next week
South Korea and Japan will hold the fourth round of their bilateral free trade talks next week in Seoul next week, Seoul’s trade ministry said Wednesday
Chinese VP hopes to see S. Korea-China FTA
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, widely seen as in line to succeed President Hu Jintao in 2012, said he would like to see a free trade agreement between his country and South Korea in the near future.
Why did Seoul change to favour free trade with China?
Last weekend’s news that South Korea and China had agreed to begin serious negotiations aimed at forging a free trade deal took many analysts by surprise, leading some to ask: What’s in it for Seoul?
Korea-China FTA returns to agenda
A free trade pact between Korea and China is expected to pick up pace after the two countries on Saturday agreed to consider the deal. But a bumpy road is expected because of sensitive issues, such as agriculture.