As U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to impose tariffs, key U.S. trade partners in Asia — are on high alert. Countries with significant trade surpluses with the U.S., including China, Vietnam, and South Korea, could face the brunt of these new measures. In response to rising tensions, South Korea, China, and Japan — three of Asia’s export powerhouses — held their first economic dialogue in five years last Sunday. Their joint statement emphasized the need to strengthen regional cooperation through frameworks like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and to accelerate talks on a long-stalled trilateral free trade agreement (Reuters).

South Korean Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun noted that deepening regional integration was necessary not only to weather external trade shocks, but also to maintain open, rules-based trade in the Asia-Pacific. Despite past disputes, the three countries appear to be aligning strategically in the face of renewed U.S. protectionism.

With Asia’s export economies deeply intertwined with U.S. markets — especially in high-stakes industries like semiconductors and automobiles — the fallout from Trump’s tariff revival could reshape both global supply chains and geopolitical alliances in the months to come.

Source: Reuters