Japan¡¯s exports to the U.S. have risen for the first time since U.S. President Donald Trump announced baseline tariffs in early April, the latest indication that economies are faring better than expected in a more protectionist global trade environment.
The turnaround in shipments to the U.S. helped power the biggest gain in overall exports since February. That supports the Bank of Japan¡¯s view that uncertainties over the impact of the duties have eased, helping pave the way for a widely expected interest-rate hike later this week.
The gains in U.S. exports also helped outweigh a fall in the value of merchandise heading to China. While it¡¯s still unclear how much the ongoing diplomatic dispute between Beijing and Tokyo might affect trade, data on shipments will be closely watched for any signs that friction is weighing on commerce between Asia¡¯s two largest economies.
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