TOKYO (AP) — Japanese government data show the nation’s exports fell 3.8 percent in December, compared to a year ago, pushed down by falling exports to China.
Japan’s exports to China dipped 7 percent from the same month the previous year, according to Ministry of Finance data released Wednesday.
China’s economy has slowed recently, partly as a result of trade friction with the U.S. set off by President Donald Trump’s policies.
Earlier this week, China’s official data showed its economic growth hit a three-decade low in 2018, with growth slowing to 6.6 percent from 6.9 percent in 2017.
Japan’s economy has been export-oriented for decades, making a vibrant U.S., as well as Chinese, economies critical for continued growth.
Japanese imports for December rose 1.9 percent from the same month in 2017.
