China Pushes East Asia Trade Pact Amid US Tensions Despite Challenges

Efforts to deepen economic cooperation through free trade agreements are ongoing amid complex geopolitical dynamics. China is pushing to resume trilateral FTA talks with Japan and South Korea despite challenges from existing trade frameworks and political shifts, with concerns over limited benefits due to China's reduced imports from these countries. Simultaneously, India and the European Union are negotiating a free trade agreement, focusing on resolving issues such as trade barriers and the EU's carbon tax, aiming for a deal by December. Meanwhile, the Trump administration's renewed protectionist trade policies mark a significant shift from the post-World War II rules-based international order, raising questions about their effectiveness in addressing middle-class decline and economic dislocation in the U.S. Within the transatlantic context, the EU remains divided over a customs agreement with the U.S., with critics highlighting increased U.S. tariffs and the impact of a strong euro on European exports, despite the European Commission's support for the deal as a stabilizing platform for trade. These developments reflect ongoing tensions and adjustments in global trade relations involving major economies.