Japan exports take another hit from China slowdown

Japan’s exports slowed for a second straight month in August in a worrying sign that China’s economic slowdown could deal a damaging blow to the world’s third-biggest economy and force policymakers to inject fresh stimulus before too long.

The data joins a string of depressing shipment numbers in key regional economies, including South Korea and Taiwan, which has heightened anxiety over a China-led slowdown in global growth.

Slowing exports could increase the chance of additional monetary easing from the Bank of Japan.