China, Japan and South Korea aim to speed up talks on free-trade agreement to counter US tariffs
2018-09-22 09:13:23 source：The South China Morning Post
September 22, 2018
Officials from China, Japan and South Korea are calling for further efforts to accelerate talks about a free-trade agreement between the three northeast Asian economies in the face of escalating trade pressures from the US.
While a quicker negotiation would send a firm signal about the commitment of the three countries to deepen economic cooperation in response to the uncertainties in global trade, experts say that diverging interests remain.
China, locked in a mounting trade war with the US, may seek an agreement more urgently, while Japan and South Korea, dissatisfied at Beijing’s reluctance to lower market barriers, may be more cautious in looking for a more substantial and progressive deal.
Read more: