Title Page
ABSTRACT
Contents
Chapter I. Introduction 10
1.1. Research Background 10
1.1.1. Overview of development of Global Free Trade Areas 11
1.1.2. Overview of China-Japan-Korea Free Trade Area 14
1.1.3. Overview of RCEP 15
1.2. Research Significance 19
1.2.1. Theoretical significance 19
1.2.2. Practical significance 20
1.3. Methodology 22
1.4. Structure of the Thesis 23
Chapter II. The origin and development of the China-Japan-Korea FTA 25
2.1. A Brief Status of China, Japan and Korea in World Trade 25
2.1.1. China's Position in World Trade 25
2.1.2. Japan's Position in World Trade 29
2.1.3. Korea's Position in World Trade 32
2.2. Origin of China-Japan-Korea FTA 34
2.2.1. The background of China-Japan-Korea FTA 34
2.2.2. The Conception of China-Japan-Korea FTA 36
2.3. China-Japan-Korea FTA Construction Process 41
2.3.1. Initial Stage 41
2.3.2. Slow Development Stage 42
2.3.3. Smooth Development Stage 45
2.3.4. Mature Stage of Development 47
Chapter III. Overview of RCEP negotiations 49
3.1. RCEP negotiation background 49
3.1.1. The Doha Development Agenda is stalled 49
3.1.2. The impact of TPP negotiation process on RCEP 51
3.1.3. Initiation of RCEP negotiations 52
3.2. Guiding principles and objectives for Negotiating the RCEP 53
3.2.1. The purpose of the RCEP negotiation 53
3.2.2. RCEP institutions and membership accession mechanisms 54
3.2.3. Principles of RCEP negotiation 56
3.2.4. Characteristics of the RCEP negotiation 59
3.3. Process and effect of RCEP negotiation 62
3.3.1. The process of RCEP negotiations 62
3.3.2. The effect of the RCEP negotiations 68
3.4. Issues of RCEP negotiation 68
3.4.1. Issue of Trade in Goods 68
3.4.2. Trade in Services Issue 71
3.4.3. Investment issues 73
Chapter IV. Necessity and feasibility analysis of China-Japan-Korea FTA after the signing of the RCEP 75
4.1. The role of China, Japan and the South Korea in the RCEP negotiations 75
4.4.1. China's role in RCEP 75
4.4.2. Evolution of Japan's RCEP Policy 77
4.1.3. Motivation of South Korea's RCEP Participation 80
4.2. Trade Situation between China, Japan and Korea 82
4.2.1. The Current Trade Situation between China and Japan 82
4.2.2. The Present Trade Situation between China and Korea 85
4.2.3. The Current Trade Situation between Japan and Korea 88
4.3. The Necessity of Constructing China-Japan-ROK Free Trade Area 91
4.3.1. An increase in the level of national welfare 91
4.3.2. Benefit in industrial structure adjustment 92
4.3.3. Integration of East-Asian economy 94
4.4. The legal basis for the construction of the China-Japan-ROK FTA 95
4.4.1. WTO Multilateral Trading System 95
4.4.2. Legal system of trade among China, Japan and Korea 97
4.4.3. Legal consensus based on the RCEP Agreement 98
Chapter V. The Restrictive Factors in Establishing China - Japan - Korea FTA 101
5.1. Economic Obstacles 101
5.1.1. Differences in economic development levels between China, Japan and South Korea 101
5.1.2. China, Japan and the ROK have obvious differences in industrial structure 102
5.1.3. Motivation and interest appeal are different 106
5.2. Negotiation content and the current legal system coordination 107
5.2.1. Coordination with WTO Multilateral Trade Rules 107
5.2.2. Coordination with signed regional trade agreements and bilateral trade agreements 108
5.2.3. Coordination with domestic laws of the three countries 110
5.3. The solutions to the problems facing the establishment of the China-Japan-Korea FTA 112
5.3.1. Efforts were made to resolve the economic obstacles between the three countries 112
5.3.2. Reasonably solve the problem of rule making power 116
5.3.3. Strengthening political cooperation among China, Japan and the South Korea 119
5.3.4. Strengthen cultural exchanges among China, Japan and the South Korea 123
Chapter VI. Conclusion 127
Reference 133