Seoul, 30 March 2025 (dpa/MIA) - The trade ministers of South Korea, China and Japan agreed on Sunday to push ahead with a free trade agreement at a meeting held for the first time in six years.

South Korean Trade Minister Ahn Duk Geun received his counterparts Yoji Muto from Japan and Wang Wentao from China in the South Korean capital Seoul a few days before more US tariffs are due to come into force.

In a joint statement, the three ministers agreed to promote a Korea-Japan-China free trade agreement and emphasized the need for closer economic and trade cooperation.

Importance of free trade

Given the rapidly changing global economic and trade environment, the meeting was also important for the international community, Ahn was quoted as saying by South Korea's official news agency Yonhap.

He called for the role of the World Trade Organization to be restored in order to create a stable environment for global trade.

The US government under President Donald Trump has already introduced various trade restrictions since his inauguration in January.

Goods from China are subject to around 20% tariffs at the border. On Thursday, 25% tariffs on car imports into the United States are set to take effect. South Korea and Japan are important car exporters to the US.

MIA file photo