The government is debating whether to start talks on a free-trade deal with Beijing as prospects for reaching a trilateral accord with China and South Korea appear to be fading, trade sources said Wednesday.
The three countries have already held preparatory talks aimed at beginning formal negotiations on a trilateral FTA at a key summit next month, but with the chances of a deal receding, the government may instead turn its focus to a bilateral accord with China, the sources said.
Japan would start the necessary preparations to begin trade talks with China once South Korea formally confirms its opposition to joining a trilateral accord at the summit to be held May 13 and 14 in Beijing, they said.