Japan Exports Fall As China, US Demand Weakens

Japanese exports fell much faster than expected in February as U.S. and China-bound shipments weakened, a source of concern for the world’s third-largest economy as it tries to prop up growth. The prospects for a U.S. recovery may ease concerns about the outlook for Japan’s economy, however, which is seen slowing in the current quarter due to new COVID curbs that have hit service-sector activity. Ministry of Finance data out on Wednesday showed Japanese exports fell 4.5% year-on-year in February, hurt by decline in U.S.-bound shipments of automobiles. “Japan’s export growth has probably weakened this quarter, but uptrend remains intact,”…