Summary
China, Japan, and South Korea have resumed trade cooperation, pledging to deepen ties under China’s lead, marking a major geopolitical shift as the U.S. embraces isolationist tariffs.
The three ministers held a symbolic unity gesture in Seoul, reinforcing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
China is also engaging the EU to counter Trump’s trade agenda. Trump’s proposed tariffs could extract $6 trillion over a decade, risking stagflation and global recession.
Critics call his actions unconstitutional and fear global retaliation, potentially collapsing the current trade order and triggering a tit-for-tat spiral.