By APD writer Alice

Senior Trade officials from South Korea, Japan and China gathered in Seoul on November 27 for the 16th round of talks on forging a free Trade Deal among the three Asian neighbors.

Since they launched the talks in 2012, the three nations have made little progress toward the Deal, which will create one of the world's largest economic blocs once it is signed.

During the three-day talks, the officials are expected to discuss ways to open goods and services markets and lower other Trade barriers.

The talks came after ASEAN member states, South Korea and five other countries reached a Deal on a mega Asia-Pacific Trade pact, known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), earlier this month.

The agreement involved the whole 10-member ASEAN bloc and its dialogue partners: South Korea, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)