China, South Korea and Japan agree to strengthen free trade

TOPSHOT - South Korea's Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun (centre) poses for a photo with Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto (left) and China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao during the 13th Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting in Seoul on March 30, 2025. -- Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP

SEOUL (AFP): China, South Korea and Japan agreed Sunday to strengthen free trade in the face of a raft of new tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

The agreement came at a meeting of top trade officials -- the first at that level in five years -- days ahead of the start of tariffs on a huge range of US imports, including cars, trucks, and auto parts.