The China–Japan–Republic of Korea trilateral free trade agreement may become a critical pillar of Asian regionalism, determining future trade and political regime in the global scale. Undoubtedly, this trilateral political dialogue is to be accompanied by parallel talks over competitive, trans-regional projects involving Asia–Pacific partners, with special regard to the Transpacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). However, given the common challenges of the three analysed countries, in particular the unfavourable demographics, reindustrialization, and inefficient domestic demand, it should be noted that the said trilateral dialogue is facing very serious obstacles resulting from, among others, their historical ballast and territorial claims, as well as the intra-regional competition for leadership between Beijing and Tokyo. The aim of the article is to study both multilateral determinants and implications of the future China–Japan–Republic of Korea FTA.

The China–Japan–Republic of Korea trilateral free trade agreement may become a critical pillar of Asian regionalism, determining future trade and political regime in the global scale. Undoubtedly, this trilateral political dialogue is to be accompanied by parallel talks over competitive, trans-regional projects involving Asia–Pacific partners, with special regard to the Transpacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). However, given the common challenges of the three analysed countries, in particular the unfavourable demographics, reindustrialization, and inefficient domestic demand, it should be noted that the said trilateral dialogue is facing very serious obstacles resulting from, among others, their historical ballast and territorial claims, as well as the intra-regional competition for leadership between Beijing and Tokyo. The aim of the article is to study both multilateral determinants and implications of the future China–Japan–Republic of Korea FTA.