China, Japan, and South Korea agree to jointly respond to Trump's tariffs

China, Japan, and South Korea have agreed to jointly counter US trade tariffs, marking a significant step in regional economic cooperation, a social media account affiliated with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV announced on March 31.

The announcement followed a trilateral economic dialogue held on March 30, the first in five years, where the three Asian economic powerhouses discussed strategies to counterbalance US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, Caliber.Az reports, citing the latest material by Reuters.

The leaders emphasized the need for stronger regional trade ties as they brace for potential economic disruptions caused by Washington’s trade measures.

According to a post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo by Yuyuan Tantian, a channel linked to CCTV, Japan and South Korea are looking to import semiconductor raw materials from China. At the same time, China has expressed interest in purchasing chip products from Japan and South Korea.

The three nations agreed to deepen cooperation on supply chains, ensuring stability despite trade tensions with the US. They also committed to engaging in further discussions on export controls, aiming to prevent supply chain disruptions amid growing economic uncertainty.

A statement released after meeting confirmed that trade ministers from China, Japan, and South Korea pledged to “closely cooperate for comprehensive and high-level” negotiations on a potential trilateral free trade agreement (FTA). This initiative seeks to promote both regional and global trade, offering an alternative economic framework to counteract increasing US protectionism.

The ministers emphasized that closer economic integration would bolster their economies and provide a stable trade environment in light of external pressures.

The renewed regional cooperation comes just as US President Donald Trump prepares to implement additional tariffs as part of his “Liberation Day” trade strategy on April 2. Trump has pledged to impose “reciprocal” tariffs, mirroring the duties that other countries place on American exports, aiming to reduce US dependence on foreign goods.

The planned tariffs are expected to further strain trade relations between the US and its key Asian trading partners. In response, China, Japan, and South Korea are working to solidify their economic ties to mitigate potential economic shocks.

By Tamilla Hasanova