Talks on China-Japan-South Korea FTA merely ‘symbolic’ given US and public opposition

The FTA talks are likely to stall given public support in Japan and South Korea to ease trade dependence on China, analysts say

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Chinese Premier Li Qiang speaks at the eighth business summit among China, Japan and South Korea, in Seoul. Photo: Xinhua/Pang Xinglei

Published: 4:45pm, 13 Jun 2024

China, Japan and South Korea have agreed to further talks for a trilateral free trade agreement (FTA) but analysts are divided over its prospects with views ranging from a “death knell” to a “protracted” process for the FTA.

The FTA might come to fruition if its scope covers less sensitive sectors such as services, the analysts say.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said at their summit in Seoul last month that their countries would “speed up negotiations” for a trilateral FTA.

They pledged to aim for an agreement that is “free, fair, comprehensive, high-quality, and mutually beneficial”, according to the summit’s joint declaration.

The declaration emphasised the importance of the success of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) as a foundation for the trilateral FTA. The RCEP comprises 15 Asia-Pacific countries including China, Japan and South Korea, and has been in effect since 2022.

While negotiation for the trilateral FTA began in 2012, talks have stalled after the 16th round held in November 2019.