Foreign ministers from countries participating in the East Asia Summit forum, which includes Japan, the United States, China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, avoided discussing tariffs at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, apparently out of consideration for the United States.

Last week's summit of the three East Asian giants - China, Japan and South Korea - was a momentous occasion that could have huge economic implications. These close neighbours are not only the largest economies in East Asia but also second and third in the