The elusive China-Japan-South Korea free trade agreement
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Authors
Greenberg, Jonathan D.
Subjects
China
Japan
South Korea
free trade agreement
Trans-Pacific Partnership
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Northeast Asian Regionalism
Japan
South Korea
free trade agreement
Trans-Pacific Partnership
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Northeast Asian Regionalism
Advisors
Glosny, Michael
Date of Issue
2015-09
Date
Sep-15
Publisher
Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
East Asia has become a major hub for global trade. At the center of this East Asian factory are three nations– China, Japan, and South Korea–which have benefited the most economically. Yet, despite transnational value chains and the trilateral political cooperation that binds these nations, they have yet to conclude a trilateral free trade agreement (FTA). Since 1999, the China-Japan-South Korea FTA has proved to be an elusive feat for these Northeast Asian neighbors. Historical and political animosities and popular mistrust seem to have a corrosive effect upon the trilateral relationship despite decades of political cooperation and economic interdependence. What explains the limited progress toward a China-Japan-South Korea FTA? This thesis tests four potential explanations for the trilateral FTA’s current lack of progress: perceptions of the deal not being an economic priority, the power of influential domestic business interests negatively affected by the FTA, regional competition over China’s growing domestic market, and regional political-historical animosities. Overall, this research concludes that Japan is the least willing participant to push for progress toward a trilateral FTA, and a lack of perception of the deal not being an economic priority is the strongest explanation.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
National Security Affairs
National Security Affairs
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.