By Oh Hyun Woo and Kim Hwaya

Through the chairman's statements of multilateral ministerial meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), member countries of the regional bloc expressed concerns over the rise in trade conflicts and protectionism.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Aug. 4 announced that ASEAN member countries actively expressed support for the free trade system the day before through the chairman's statements of the Republic of Korea (ROK)-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, East Asia Summit (EAS) and ROK-Mekong Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Clause 6 of the statement from the ASEAN+3 meeting said the ministers warned against rising trade tension and its impact on economic growth. "They expressed fears over the rising tide of protectionism and anti-globalization sentiments that continue to plague the global economy and put the multilateral trading system at risk," the statement said.

Expressions not included in last year's statement, including "rising trade tensions" and "caution," were used in this year's.

The statement from the ROK-Mekong Foreign Ministers' Meeting said, "The ministers expressed concern over trade protectionism and trade tensions between trading partners," adding, "They reiterated their commitment to uphold a transparent, free, open, inclusive and rules-based multilateral trading system led by the World Trade Organization."

The ROK-ASEAN meeting and the EAS also emphasized through their statements the importance of an open and inclusive system of multilateral trade.

The ministry said the chairman's statements reflect awareness of a nondiscriminatory and fair trade system by countries in the region. It added that the statements also show the consensus of such countries on the importance of free trade that the Korean government has emphasized in the wake of Japan's trade restrictions.

hyunw54@korea.kr