Seoul –

The Japanese, Chinese and South Korean governments are considering holding a meeting of their trade ministers in Seoul later this month in what would be their first meeting since the one held in Beijing in December 2019.

Japanese trade minister Yoji Muto will attend the envisaged meeting if he receives parliamentary approval.

At the meeting, the three sides will likely discuss trade and economic cooperation, including on a proposed trilateral free trade agreement and measures to bolster the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership free trade pact.

With tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration upsetting global free trade frameworks, the three East Asian nations may discuss how to tackle the situation.

In a joint statement at a three-way summit held in the South Korean capital last May, the Japanese, Chinese and South Korean leaders vowed to "keep discussions for speeding up negotiations for a trilateral FTA, aiming at realizing a free, fair, comprehensive, high-quality and mutually beneficial" deal.

There was no meeting of their trade ministers in the past five years, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a deterioration in Japan-South Korea relations.

But the Tokyo-Seoul relationship has improved under South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. The three nations have been considering when to resume their trade talks.

South Korean Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun will likely attend the envisioned ministerial meeting.

As this year's chair of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, South Korea is expected to ask for Japanese and Chinese cooperation for the success of the APEC summit to be held in the southeastern city of Gyeongju in autumn.

Japan and South Korea are seen agreeing to strengthen their ties as this year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of their diplomatic relations. They will also affirm cooperation over the 2025 World Exposition in the city of Osaka and over the APEC meetings.