Japan exports fall most in 4 years as Trump tariffs bite

TOKYO, Aug 20 (AFP): Japanese exports suffered their steepest drop in more than four years last month as tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump bit, official data showed Wednesday.

The year-on-year drop of 2.6 per cent in July included a 10.1-per cent plunge in exports to the United States, the finance ministry data showed.

Japanese exports of motor vehicles-cars, buses and trucks-to the world's biggest economy plummeted by 28.4 per cent, while those of auto parts fell 17.4 per cent.

Trump has imposed painful import tariffs on countries around the world in an attempt to boost US manufacturing and reduce the colossal US trade deficit.