Cooperation Among Japan, China, and South Korea to Counter US Tariffs? Japan Refutes Chinese Media Reports

According to a report by the Chinese official media, it was claimed that Japan, China, and South Korea had agreed to jointly respond to the tariffs imposed by the United States. However, Japanese officials publicly refuted this statement, with the official Twitter account of the Japanese Embassy in China discrediting the claim.

On Wednesday, April 2nd, the official social media account X of the Japanese Embassy in China posted in English, stating, “There are media reports claiming that Japan, China, and South Korea have agreed to jointly respond to U.S. tariffs. However, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Yoji Muto stated in a press conference on April 1st that no such discussion had taken place.”

According to detailed records of the press conference, the media asked for confirmation from Minister Muto regarding the Chinese (CCP) media reports of Japan, China, and South Korea agreeing to jointly respond to U.S. tariffs.

Initially surprised by the question, Minister Muto clarified with the reporters that there had been no discussion among Japan, China (CCP), and South Korea regarding joint action on U.S. tariffs. When asked if there was absolutely no discussion on the matter, Minister Muto emphatically responded, “None at all.”

He further explained, “Last weekend, trade ministers from Japan, China (CCP), and South Korea held a meeting, but there was no discussion whatsoever on the mentioned issue. They simply exchanged opinions.”

Subsequently, Minister Muto added, “They only exchanged opinions,” emphasizing that no agreement was reached to take united action in response to U.S. tariffs.

China’s state-owned CCTV social media account “Yuyuan Tan Tian” released a report on Monday, March 31st, on Weibo, stating that Japan, China, and South Korea had held their first economic dialogue in over five years on Sunday, March 30th, aiming to promote regional trade. The trade ministers of the three countries reportedly unanimously agreed to jointly address the impact of U.S. retaliatory tariffs.

South Korea refuted the exaggerated claims made in the Chinese official media report. When asked about the report by the CCP media, a spokesperson from the South Korean Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Resources stated that the Chinese social media post contained “some exaggeration.” She suggested following the text of the joint declaration of the three countries and added that, “The three countries exchanged views on the global trade environment.”

These three Asian countries are all major exporters and are facing the reality of having to deal with the possibility of increased tariffs imposed by the United States.

However, Japan and South Korea are traditional allies of the United States and have been in a tense relationship with Beijing over territorial disputes and other issues.

On Wednesday, President Trump announced a series of broader and higher tariffs, aimed at reducing the domestic trade deficit and bringing manufacturing jobs back to the United States.