Abstract Given the features and contents of Trump’s protectionism, it’s believed that the present US trade policy has undergone fundamental changes, transforming the US into an opponent of the global multilateral trade system rather than a facilitator. China, Japan, and the ROK share common benefits and resorts such as maintaining the global multilateral trade system, fostering the regional manufacturing network and negotiating on the free trade area. Against such a background, the establishment of the China-Japan-ROK Free Trade Area (CJK FTA) witnesses a new opportunity. However, the construction of CJK FTA also faces many difficulties, such as the leadership in cooperation, regional identity, sensitive industry protection and the standards of FTA, which shed uncertainties on the prospect of CJK FTA. Thus, it is important for China to make good preparations concerning regional policymaking in advance.
