Who dominant in Japan and South Korea FTA

Gloomy global trade context, the construction of a free trade zone in Northeast Asia for its add a dash of color. 11 months 20 days, the Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming, Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yukio Edano, Park Tae-ho, South Korean Foreign Minister Tsusho representations to the Minister for a meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, announced the launch of Japan and South Korea FTA negotiations. The first round of negotiations of the Free Trade Area of the three countries will be 2013 .

Start-Japan-ROK FTA negotiations, Asia, Japan and South Korea is a good news, good news. As East Asia's three core economies, in 2011 , the Sino-Japanese were the world's second-largest and third largest economies. China, Japan, and South Korea's GDP accounted for East Asia . -Japan-ROK free trade area, if the establishment will be a 15.2 million consumers, GDP totaled 12.3443 one trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for world GDP huge economic circle. On a global scale, the size of its trade after the European Union and the United States.

However, it asked the grand blueprint is one thing, could eventually built, and when completed it is another matter. View from the printing of talk, encourage, pour cold water on the lot. Far East Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences expert regarded of Yakov · Biergeer, pour cold water on one of the experts, he believes the likelihood of success in Japan and South Korea Free Trade Area of less than 50% . FTA negotiations, Japan and South Korea face many political obstacles, negotiations will not be easy, but also can not be done overnight. If the negotiations than for the long march, then, announced the launch of negotiations, but took the first step is the Long March.

However, compared to the economic problems for Japan and South Korea FTA negotiations more or out of strategic considerations. But it is clear that the reference, Japan and South Korea have signed a variety of bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements, these obstacles are not new issues. Outside of trade protectionism, political considerations are very important roadblocks.

Well, so important in Japan and South Korea FTA negotiations, led by whom? Who will call the shots? China, Japan, South Korea? And senior government officials of the three countries decided to start negotiations on the date of these problems is not clear. This caused quite a lot of guessing. It seems that it is determining who led the negotiations on the free trade zone among the three future some game contest. As China, aspires to become a global power, no doubt with ambition and a strong desire to promote this free trade area as soon as possible built. Because China is more eligible for dominance in the FTA negotiations.

The reason is, the real-Japan-ROK free trade area concept was first proposed, former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, 2001 joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) , he said to make this claim. After China FTA established a very positive attitude. 2003 , the leaders of China, Japan and Korea was signed in Bali, Japan and South Korea Joint Declaration on the Promotion of Tripartite Cooperation. This indicates that in Japan and South Korea began officially from the government level to promote the idea of free trade zones.

Just from 2003 onwards , in Japan and South Korea FTA process barely made ​​little concrete progress. Period, it seems that only the Chinese are very active, while South Korea has expressed reservations about the most critical in Japan had a negative attitude.

In fact, try to lead the negotiations for China, South Korea, do not buy it. To put it plainly, it also wants to become a leader. South Korea, "Chosun Ilbo recently published article pointed out that South Korea should be treated according to their own pace, Japan and South Korea FTA, China should not be led by the nose, do not need to think too much - China's pressure, and the frantic situation. Day scramble negotiations dominance competition, South Korea Backward balance of any party will affect the balance. Therefore, in the negotiation process of the Free Trade Area of ​​China, Japan and Korea, Korea also can successfully play to their strengths.

Compared with China and South Korea, Japan and actively seek dominance did not show attitude. The reason is that Japan is more active is to join a US-led Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement ( TPP ). Irons allies in South Korea and Japan are the United States, Korea and Japan closer to China in any form are very sensitive, especially in the United States Japan, as well as more Asian countries seeking to participate , and so bound in Japan and South Korea FTA negotiations the process of trying to obstruct.

Moreover, in Japan and South Korea Free Trade Area negotiations between government, diplomatic relations because of the tension in the historical and territorial issues, the power of the trade negotiations also dissolves. In view of this, the Japanese may not be willing to be "active collaborator" free trade zone, China, Japan and Korea, they might be the showstopper, to delay in Japan and South Korea FTA negotiation process, so as to achieve the first to complete the TPP negotiations.

Of course, no one expects Japan and South Korea FTA negotiations can become a panacea, but it does reflect the three countries at least to prevent territorial disputes further spread to the wishes of the economic relations. Perhaps in-Japan-ROK FTA negotiations, Japan and South Korea economic integration process, and its dominance in contention will be a prominent and complex problems, who will not take the initiative to give up their chance to compete. As for the final result, we only try to be objective.