Context:
President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcement elicited a variety of responses from governments around the world. Among the most striking of these, however, was China’s proclamation that it would be working with Japan and South Korea to develop joint responses to the tariffs. While many observers quickly dismissed the announcement as unrealistic, the three states engaged in trilateral economic discussions in March, suggesting increased alignment may be possible.

Prior to the March summit, trade talks between China, Japan and South Korea had languished since
2020. While the three had commenced discussions on a trilateral free trade agreement in 2012, a
combination of historical rivalries, territorial disputes and concerns over Chinese expansionism
effectively halted negotiations.

However, the threat of U.S. tariffs – particularly those targeting the automotive sector – was evidently enough of a unifying factor to overcome some of these tensions. During the meeting, the trade ministers from the three nations agreed to restart trilateral trade discussions and “promote regional and global trade”. Though the three reportedly agreed to hold additional talks in the future, it remains unclear if and when such a dialogue could occur.

Resolution Criteria:

This question will resolve positively if a major news outlet reports that China, Japan and South Korea have held one or more official trilateral economic dialogues by June 30, 2025.

Further Reading:

China, Japan and South Korea to Strengthen Free Trade | DW
South Korea, China, Japan Agree to Promote Regional Trade as Trump Tariffs Loom | Reuters
China Urges Japan, South Korea and ASEAN to Deepen Cooperation amid Trade War Turbulence | South China Morning Post