Trump’s threat to free trade brings China, Japan, South Korea closer

Trump's threat to free trade brings China, Japan, South Korea closer Trump's threat to free trade brings China, Japan, South Korea closer

TOKYO/SEOUL — Foreign ministers from Japan, China and South Korea on Saturday agreed to deepen economic cooperation, a testament to the free trade threat posed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” protectionist policy.

China sees an opportunity in the disruption to the international order caused by Trump, seeking to drive a wedge into the three-way alliance among the U.S., Japan and South Korea.