China to accelerate North Asia trade talks

China will boost north Asia trade talks in a move that is largely regarded as an attempt from Beijing to rebuild trade ties with Japan and counter the US’s “pivot” toward Asia, Reuters reported. China will hold three rounds of talks in Seoul this year to form a three-way free trade agreement with Japan and South Korea, according to China’s Ministry of Commerce. The talks are widely believed to be an effort to offset the American effort to finalize a trans-Pacific free trade agreement that excludes China. The US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership that Tokyo will look to join could leave China increasingly isolated in international trade.