China, Japan and South Korea agreed to jointly respond to U.S. tariffs, a social media account affiliated with Chinese state media said on Monday, an assertion Seoul called "somewhat exaggerated", while Tokyo said there was no such discussion.
The state media comments came after the three countries held their first economic dialogue in five years on Sunday, seeking to facilitate regional trade as the Asian export powers brace against U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs.
Japan and South Korea are seeking to import semiconductor raw materials from China, and China is also interested in purchasing chip products from Japan and South Korea, the account, Yuyuan Tantian, linked to China Central Television, said in a post on Weibo.
All three sides agreed to strengthen supply chain cooperation and engage in more dialogue on export controls, the post said.
When asked about the report, a spokesperson for South Korea's trade ministry said "the suggestion that there was a joint response to U.S. tariffs appears to have been somewhat exaggerated," and referred to the text of the countries' joint statement.
Japan's Trade Minister Yoji Muto, when asked about it at a press conference on Tuesday, said there was a meeting of trade ministers at the weekend but there were no such discussions.
The meeting was just an exchange of views, Muto said.
During Sunday's meeting, the countries' trade ministers agreed to speed up talks on a South Korea-Japan-China free trade agreement deal to promote "regional and global trade", according to a statement released after the meeting.
"The three countries exchanged views on the global trade environment, and as you can see in the joint statement, they shared their understanding of the need to continue economic and trade cooperation," the South Korean trade ministry spokesperson said.
The countries' trade ministers met ahead of Trump's planned announcement on Wednesday of more tariffs in what he calls "liberation day", as he upends Washington's trading partnerships.
Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo are major U.S. trading partners, although they have been at loggerheads amongst themselves over issues including territorial disputes and Japan's release of wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant.
© Thomson Reuters 2025.
74 Comments
Login to comment
TaiwanIsNotChina
I could understand Japan and South Korea having a joint response, but why they would want to bring a middle income country like China in is beyond me.
I'veSeenFootage
Trump is very good at uniting the whole world against him. Good job, I guess?
Desert Tortoise
All three appear to want to move away from exposure to the US market. China is a huge economy right next door. When it appears US security guarantees depend on the mood of a mercurial strong man unconstrained by a legislative body that rolls over on command like a puppy and this same strong man views US trade partners as hostile to US interests maybe they think their own best interests lie in distancing themselves from the US. American first becomes America alone.
quercetum
The system of checks and balances in the U.S. currently is malfunctioning. The axe can fly off the handle at anytime. It’s best for countries to band together.
Great opportunity for Korea and Japan.
deanzaZZR
Now would be a great time to accept China into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
TaiwanIsNotChina
They should admit Taiwan first to silence any moaning about this.
Peter Neil
I doubt anyone in the circle of dimwits within the White House knows that Chinese exports to the U.S. is less than 2% of China GDP.
American auto manufacturers are already laying off employees.
American steel workers are being laid off from reduced demand from the auto industry and the contraction in construction industry. The construction industry runs on immigrants.
Oil and gas industry has laid of thousands in the last few months because “drill baby, drill” is a sophomoric understanding of the industry.
It’s like a bunch of 14-year olds running the country.
deanzaZZR
Taiwan can be added at the same time as a "customs union", a status it maintains with the WTO. You can call it China Taipei for short.
Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (Chinese Taipei) and the WTO
https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org6_e.htm
GuruMick
MAGA winning !...bringing previous adversaries together because of Trump tariffs.
"I love tariffs "
rainyday
Three countries that never agree on anything agree on Trump.
Less than three months into his administration and that is how low America’s place in the world has sunk…..so far.
isabelle
In your dreams.
China's economic coercion, market manipulation, industrial espionage, forced labor, environmental degradation, etc. etc. etc. mean that it is nowhere near to joining.
One of the terms of the CPTPP is that the country must have "a track record of compliance with international trade commitments." The idea that China meets this is laughable.
https://www.international.gc.ca/trade-commerce/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/cptpp-ptpgp/backgrounder-document_information.aspx?lang=eng
deanzaZZR
The Chinese media is reporting that President Xi plans to attend this year's APEC meeting in South Korea and is open to an invitation for a state visit to Japan.
isabelle
Taiwan can be added without China, as it is a completely separate country.
It could be added right now, as it already meets the terms (unlike China). Only pressure from the CCP on a couple of the members is preventing this.
China causing trouble, as usual.
We will call it Taiwan, as that is its name.
deanzaZZR
Wanna bet? Are we gambling New Taiwanese Dollars or Philippine pesos?
deanzaZZR
Actually the official name of the local authorities on the island of Taiwan is the Republic of China. That would be the customs union known as China Taipei in the World Trade Association and a few other international organizations such as the International Olympic Committee.
change
They would be fools if they don't work together.
Of course the US can close its boarders to foreign trade but it can't be sustained for more than 3 years.
Time for Europe to get off its reliance on US tech like Google and MS.
Wasabi
The world together against trump, so many win.... MAGA are you already tired by so many win? Where will it stop?
Desert Tortoise
Mutual US China trade is also less than 2% of the US GDP. Neither lives and dies for the other. China isn't even in the top ten for direct foreign investment in the US so no loss there either.
deanzaZZR
Unlike much of the West, China's government thinks and acts strategically. President Trump 1.0 was quite educational if you were paying attention. Clearly Canada and the EU were not paying any attention at all.
isabelle
Ha ha ha - that old line.
Xi has taken a country that others were rushing to invest in, and turned it into a pariah that others now withhold tech and investment from (FDI at 30-year lows), and whose industries and exports are severely restricted overseas due to his aggression.
He has overseen increased unemployment, a property sector collapse, a crackdown on tech and education, vastly increased debt (caused in part by the CCP's COVID-19 malfeasance), worsening demographics (caused in part by the CCP's One Child travesty), slowing growth, the destruction of Hong Kong's autonomy, and more. And the populace's response has been not to "eat bitterness" as Xi wishes, but: "lie flat," "let it rot," "involution," and "run."
Trump is awful, but he still has nothing on Xi's catastrophic rule.
OssanAmerica
China failed to meet the CPTPP membership requirements before and still does.
Trademark Protection: Members must provide protection for internationally recognized trademarks, including well-known marks, and offer enforcement mechanisms against infringement.
Patent Rights: The agreement includes provisions on patent term adjustments and protection for pharmaceutical products.
Copyright Protection: CPTPP mandates copyright protections that extend beyond WTO TRIPS standards, including digital rights management.
Enforcement Measures: Member countries must implement strict enforcement against counterfeit goods and pirated content.
China is responsible for over 60% to 80% of the world’s counterfeit goods, based on customs seizure data.
DanteKH
Sadly, USA has become the World's joke.
Is funny to see those MAGA 'yards bringing the country to the ground.
Some good news in this is maybe, just maybe, the JPY will gain some more strength in front of the USD, but is hard, as long as Japan is a USA vasal state... Unfortunatelly.
isabelle
Any actual evidence for this assertion?
Thought not.
itsonlyrocknroll
The Government of has a proven history of weaponizing behaviour,
Of "IP threat" steals intellectual property from regional businesses and governments, deliberate actions to harm Japan fishing industry.
To create regional instability to harm and threaten future trade relationships. China array of non-tariffs barriers to trade. sudden imposed taxes, duties fees paid on a particular import/export class.
The government of China refusal to follow rules based international trade rules, over production then dump.
Scurrilous predatory trade practices that distort the global economy.
The government of China cannot be trusted, no if or buts.
Walk away from any thought of joint response.
DanteKH
@Isabelle
First clue might be the amount of USA's military bases all over Japan, which only an occupational force might posses. 2nd, just take a look of Japan's constitution about the military doctrine in raport with USA, etc.
deanzaZZR
@OssanAmerica I understand it will make you mad when China gets the invite. Am I bad that that will make me laugh? Maybe, so.
With the USA sitting on the outside of CPTPP and likely not to join over the course of the next decade (sorry!) adding China's $18 trillion economy to CPTPP will give the group the clout to move in an independent trajectory and leave the USA doing whatever it thinks its doing now in terms of trade policy with Team Trump/Vance.
Adding China Taipei immediately following China China will be a nice cherry of top for the nostalgic oyaji of the LDP.
kaimycahl
Trumps Scariffs are going to hurt ally relations
isabelle
So, no evidence.
Bases that are there with the approval of Japan's government, as elected by its people.
Or a formal ally, with the approval of the host government, which is what this is.
Which article of the constitution mentions military doctrine with the USA?
(Hint: none of them)
isabelle
Have you even bothered to read the terms of the CPTPP? Have you any idea how far away China is from them?
And do you realize that it only takes one country to stop a new member joining, and that China's economic coercion (ex. the Japan seafood ban) means that there are several (Japan and Australia being the most obvious) that will not admit China?
RCEP remains the best that China can manage under the CCP. It has no chance of joining CPTPP.
Taiwan, however, already meets the requirements as -- unlike China -- it is a responsible, trustworthy, law-abiding member of the international community.
deanzaZZR
Wanna bet? New Taiwanese Dollars or Philippine pesos? I can do either.
China China gets in first. China Taipei gets in later, if ever.
Money talks. Blind ideology walks.
TaiwanIsNotChina
People don't trust China under the current WTO rules, let alone with a trade agreement.
isabelle
Perhaps you should tell your Emperor Xi, then.
His ideology is precisely what is holding China back.
No, let's bet something a lot more valuable to you: social credit points.
deanzaZZR
China, a country with good standing with the WTO.
The United State of American, a country going rouge breaking WTO norms and regulations left and right. The USA, also the country destroying the WTO dispute settlement regime.
Bonus points
Exclusive: US pauses financial contributions to WTO, trade sources say
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-suspends-financial-contributions-wto-trade-sources-say-2025-03-27/
isabelle
Honestly, how can someone even begin to post such risible nonsense?
Is your love for the CCP really that strong that you refuse to recognize reality itself?
Nibek32
If you want to see your country healthy and are against fascism, you should boycott American goods. The only way to stop the trump regime is let America crash.
deanzaZZR
Meanwhile,
WTO Chronological list of disputes cases
The USA is named as the offending party in 160 disputes (a quick count)
China is named in 50 disputes.
Certainly a whole raft of new disputes with the USA would be registered now if there was any faith in the WTO ability to operate. Sadly this is not the case given the USA sabotaging behavior over the past decade.
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_status_e.htm
That you continually attack my character makes this conversation even more amusing and the reason why I simply cannot give you up even given all your follies.
Seth M
@Isabelle nah at least China doesn't backstab its BRIC buddies, and its claim on Taiwan at least have some ground to argue about. Meanwhile the US is threatening to annex its allies on daily basis
isabelle
Which is, quite clearly, not "good standing."
And your figure of 50 seems rather low to me, given that...
...
https://www.moneycontrol.com/world/china-hit-by-record-number-of-wto-trade-disputes-as-global-backlash-to-export-surge-grows-article-12980275.html
China faced a historic surge in trade disputes at the World Trade Organization last year as its flood of low-cost exports overwhelmed global markets, triggering widespread backlash from trading partners across the world. In 2024, Beijing was the subject of 198 WTO trade investigation cases — double the figure from the previous year — accounting for nearly half of all complaints lodged at the global trade body
...
That you continually defend China in the face of overwhelming evidence makes this, and all our other conversations, even sadder.
Peter14
deanzaZZRToday 03:39 pm JST
What?? No, not even close to that. More honesty would have you admitting China has a poor standing with the WTO because of its past actions on breaking trade agreements for political reasons not based on the trade items, but using them as pawns in a political pressure move.
OssanAmerica
You have nothing to laugh about. China isn't going to get any invite unless it conforms to all the requirements to become a CPTPP member. So far haven't seen China make the slightest effort. Abiding by everyone's rules just isn't China's thing.
isabelle
So, China isn't currently invading northern India? Perhaps we all dreamed that.
Only to the CCP.
And even if the CCP has a (fictitious) "claim," nothing gives it the right to threaten Taiwan and hold an official policy of annexing it by force.
I agree that Trump is awful, as I said above. But that doesn't make China trustworthy or CPTPP-worthy: they're both bad.
Time and time again, the pro-CCP crowd thinks that pointing out negative things about the US somehow absolves China. It doesn't.
deanzaZZR
If 50 is not "good standing" what does 160 complaints mean about a certain other country that 1) lectures the world on "best" behavior, 2) has sabotaged the WTO dispute mechanism, and, 3) has stopped funding the WTO according to the Reuters article linked above?
Do note China has the largest trade volume in the world end most of the complaints come from Uncle Sam. Shocking I know.
deanzaZZR
@Peter14 It's OK. China has once again decided to prop up your wine and lobster industries while at the same time being Australia's #1 trading partner. China imports metric tons of iron ore daily to build skyscrapers, bridges and, well, navy vessels. Anything for a buck, right?
isabelle
It means that China is still not in "good standing."
Like I say, pointing out "bad" things about the US doesn't make China "good."
Even by the usual pro-CCP posting standards, this entire thread is like reading something from a parallel dimension...
deanzaZZR
Trade is a voluntary act.
Trade volume by country, 2022 (latest from the World Bank):
$6.29 trillion - China
$5.43 trillion - USA
$3.26 trillion - Germany
$1.65 trillion - Japan
$1.41 trillion - South Korea
https://wits.worldbank.org/countrystats.aspx
itsonlyrocknroll
To harshly criticize the despot dictatorship government of China, the genocide of its own people, the open refusal to allow freedom of expression, democracy in any form, basic human rights, political decent , all should never be confused with any belligerence towards the people of China. Victim of a despot regime.
The cynical political propaganda, the devastation to/of any hope of freedom in Hong kong.
To even suggest that the government of China, Japan, South Korea should jointly respond to U.S. tariffs, is frankly offensive.
Peter14
Interesting interpretation for China simply returning to adhering to its trade agreements and dropping illegal 200% tariffs.
Yes and China comes to Australia because no other nation can supply the volumes and quantities of iron ore that Australia does. What a great trade partner for China to have, how lucky are they!
deanzaZZR
Illegal?
According to the WTO website,
Current status
Mutually agreed solution notified on 29 March 2024
Loose lips, etc. etc. Maybe a lesson was learned. Probably not.
Peter14
With enormous investments from Europe, America and the world to allow it to rise.
Apart from Trumps eyes being on new territories, as is XI and Putin, no warmongering from US, unlike Xi who regularly shows his desire for war with Taiwan and those in the South Chnia sea
No, not now it isn't, or nations would all be rushing to expand their military and take territory that does not belong to them, as Xi and China is doing. To replicate China would be for WWIII to break out. See China for what not to do and how not to act.
deanzaZZR
I am sorry (not sorry) for some pushback here, but were these "enormous investments" donations or did Western and Japanese companies not make huge profits from the factories built in China and the Chinese employees working their behinds off?
The way you and many other Westerners talk about it the Chinese had no agency and received these amazing gifts from the West. The fact is China has much agency then and now and leveraged investments both foreign and domestic to fuel China's rise.
USNinJapan2
It says in the first sentence "...a social media account affiliated with Chinese state media said..." and some of you were gullible enough to continue reading.
Peter14
As you well know an investment is to secure a return. These were allowed to occur because the west erroneously believed capitalism would open up China and help make it evolve into a democracy. They got their profits but failed in their secondary objective and weakened their own nations manufacturing sectors into the bargain. Right now it reveals itself to be a very bad investments.
No doubt China "played" the west enormously and successfully. They were willing greedy investors now ruing their choice.
Peter14
Yes
After three years and having prosecuted the cases at the WTO. China backed down because it achieved nothing.
We do hope China learned its lesson but we doubt it.
deanzaZZR
There were zero repercussions, so 'nope'. Size does matter in some instances. $18 trillion $1.7 trillion last i checked.
To reply to your earlier post, to think that a civilization state which has existed for at least 3,000 years would be leveraged by capitalism of all things to become a "democracy" is the craziest of own goals.
As Sunzi said overr 2,000 years ago, "“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”
Fos
As we said time and time again, unlike United States of America’s warmongering nature, Japan-China relationships should be based on Beijing principles of peaceful co-existence, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation”.
The rise of China and its role in global capitalism have challenged the economic dominance of the west, and shattered the convenient notion that the market necessarily brings freedom. To create the impression that problems of political oppression or technological abuse are uniquely Chinese is to refuse knowledge of the complexity of governance, as well as of humanity.
itsonlyrocknroll
President Trump's administration, I suggest, could not have been voted democratically sooner.
President Trump is democracy's blunt instrument.
However, globally the government of China pandemic, Xi Jinping President of the People's Republic of China refusal to bring any form of closure for so many millions of lost souls, with a full inquiry into the origins of covod 19, set this outcome in motion.
The devastation to the economic well being across continents. The subsequent cost of living crisis. many left destitute.
These crazy bonkers supply chains, a perverse side effect of a political world addicted to "globalisation".
Donald Trump's so called "independence day", 2nd April "Reciprocal Tariffs" tomorrow could prompt a total reset to global trade rules.
Fos
Desperate attempts from the US big industrial military complex reps to come up with random accusations, from Covid-19 to 'globalization', with no logic whatsoever.
And above all, lessons on ethics and morality and from the Trump base camp. Completely ludicrous.
The anti-Beijing hysteria is clearly being led by the White House which is not concerned that China will attack other countries, but is worried that its world hegemony is being challenged
itsonlyrocknroll
People, voters electorate simply have have a choice, that is democracy bottom line.
If you are a "Republican" ....."Democrat" every four years at the ballot box you have your say.
No President, past present of future will prevent the US people from having the final say on who governs.
Don't agree?
Then you can take to the streets protest, day in, day out.
Outside the White House.
Now, try that in Beijing, form a student protest say in Tiananmen Square!
Donald Trump legacy could be bringing clarity, extreme, however sorely needed.
Peter14
Nope, future Japan-China relations should be based on a mutual respect and China adopting Japans pacifist culture.
Peter14
Still not understanding the Anti-Beijing sentiment is based on Chinese actions, not on words or opinions from any one nation, but reports from many, on Chinese hostility and bullying around the region well outside Chinese territory.
No point in always accusing the US for what other nations free press reports. Time to blame the source rather than the victims. China is at fault.
The US has already lost its position as leader of the free world the moment Trump was elected, and until he is gone America wont lead anything but its own people to rack and ruin.
itsonlyrocknroll
China's Great Firewall
https://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/cs181/projects/2010-11/FreeExpressionVsSocialCohesion/china_policy.html
Here the truth, worst still is the consequences of protest demanding democratic change.
The government of China senses the means to create division, nothing more.
Peter14
History has little to do with it. 3000 years or 300 but the CCP was founded only in 1921 and came to power in 1949. The feudal states and sometimes empires behind Chinese history means nothing today other than being very interesting reading. It means nothing to how the CCP runs China today, or how Taiwan people are embracing democracy. If it can happen in Taiwan, are they not recent relatives of China? So China also could embrace democracy and there are many mainland Chinese even now who dream of a democratic and free China.
Peter14
Naive outlook. One of China's main resource trading partners has lost respect and trust in China, and will no doubt stand in the way of Chinese membership to the CPTPP as a result. Thats a consequence.
Fos
Asia should be grateful to China's presence in Asia, as the ultimate and main defense to the warmongering maneuvering of the US administration on a global stage, willing to replicate what is going on in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. That's an undeniable fact.
Most of you already know pretty well, and yet you help the US administration with the manipulation of narrative. Truth is that most of the civilized world has enough of the warmongering and the greed of the warlords of Wall Street, heavily invested in the weapons industry. I don't think there is much to add. This is the world we live in and Trump or America are not the guiding lights.
bass4funk
The opposite, they were always united against us, he is just changing "his" mission to tariff them equally.
TaiwanIsNotChina
The facts say otherwise.
https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2022/06/22/international-public-opinion-of-the-u-s-remains-positive/
Granted that was under the former guy.
John-San
The bully has lost all his hanger on’s. The bully never had real mates just hangers on’s wanting to avoid the bully leashing out. In a last ditch effort to stay relevant the bully want all the hangers on’s to pay protection but the bully has lost it ability to protect its own. Ford are moving over seas the first of many rats fleeing a sink ship. The Bully opposition who has never been at war or invaded other now is requiring new friends that are willing to work with despite its political logic. The bully has lost it way and it engine to power through it isolated fascism is faulty. Only the idiots remain desperately offering excuses while manning the peddle power now available after losing it back up. Like we never saw this coming.
TaiwanIsNotChina
You're talking about China, right?
John-San
I pay that Tai. Anyway the Ford company does indicate which bully.
deanzaZZR
If Japan and South Korea support China, Australia will play along nicely.
It would be entertaining as a bystander, I suppose if Australia stood alone in opposition.
Fos
Well said John-san, and the representatives of the US big industrial military complex are still gathering to give morality lessons to world, trying to get few breadcrumbs out of the death and violence caused by their employer. Pathetic!
John-San
Deanza: Mate Australia will always support the USA and Israel. Even after Israel cyber attack on our ports system after abstaining on a crucial Israel UN vote. Stupid I know, but that how it is.
deanzaZZR
@John-San I get that. The USA is not a member of CPTPP. Are you suggesting Australia would torpedo the deal because of USA pressure even though the USA is not a party to CPTPP?
deanzaZZR
@Fos Hegseth just doing Hegseth things. From the presser:
&
Committing Japan to fight a war in Taiwan is a great demonstration of being unprepared and not knowing the audience.
https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/4139247/secretary-of-defense-pete-hegseth-joint-press-conference-with-japanese-defense/