Asian giants tiptoe toward free trade deal

The prolonged trade development negotiations seem to be finally bearing fruit. This would provide China, Japan, and South Korea with an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the strength of the East Asian Countries, and would effectively counter the growing pressure placed on all three by the United States. The United States should take this as a positive step in the evolution of a more independent East Asian Trading Partnership. One of the possible side benefits would be a reduction in the intensity of the conflicts between China and Japan, and between Japan and Korea over long-standing territorial disputes, which would benefit the entire region, and the relationship between the United States and Japan; the United States and South Korea; and the United States and the entire region.

I doubt it would work. Asians are too economically nationalistic and protective of their markets. If they've needed 10 years merely to talk about a deal, that should serve as a signal that this whole concept is fatally flawed.

sorry never going to happen, and if it does theyd be so many exemptions that it couldnt really be called a "free trade deal"

JeffLeeMar. 30, 2013 - 08:16AM JST

I doubt it would work. Asians are too economically nationalistic and protective of their markets. If they've needed 10 years merely to talk about a deal,

Exactly.

There is no Germany of Asia. A country prepared to place their economic and financial national interests to second place to European well being. The Germany of the 50's was racked with war guilt and wished to atone for the havoc it had caused.

Japan could have been the same in the early 80's, but missed the chance. Learning your history properly, does have its uses.

We know a free trade zone betwwen these three countries shall never happens! At least not in Shinzo Abe in charge of Japan! Japan is too rightist running her politics, South Korea is paranoid to both countries and China feels uneasy with a militaristic America stop on both countries and her policy so called: "Return to asia'!

Why do you guys act so pessimistic? I'm not sure if it is gonna happen but I hope it will. If people keep thinking its impossible then you might as well throw in the towel.

doubt the u.s. would want this to happen. keeping tension boiling b/w the three neighbors is good business for u.s. military industrial complex.