NEWSWORTHY
Japan's exports slump again on weak external demand, putting central bank on notice
Exports fell in February for the third straight month, a sign the trade-reliant economy is under growing strain and suggesting that the Bank of Japan might eventually be forced to offer more stimulus to temper the effects of slowing external demand and trade friction. Slower ...
Sake evangelists launch campaign to demystify nihonshu in U.K.
Businesses in Britain are coming up with inventive ways to try to broaden the appeal of sake to suit European palates as Japan looks to increase sales in developed markets across the world. For many in Britain, sake is an acquired taste and is only ...
Japan stresses weak link between strength of yen and exports ahead of U.S. trade talks
The U.S. says it wants a currency clause in any trade agreement with Japan, but as the two sides prepare to sit down, Japanese officials say there is no need to talk about currencies. Masatsugu Asakawa, the nation's currency chief, has indicated opposition to a ...
Government says factory production is 'pausing' after industrial output fell 3.7% in January
Japan's industrial output fell 3.7 percent in January from December, a third straight monthly decline amid sluggish export demand, the industry ministry said Thursday, prompting the government to lower its basic assessment. The month-on-month pace of decline is the largest in a year. Sagging exports ...
Wealthy buyers in Asia grow more interested in Japan's nishikigoi ornamental carp
An increasing number of wealthy buyers in Asia have shown an interest in nishikigoi (Japanese colored varieties of carp), pushing up the market for the luxury ornamental fish. In October last year, a Chinese collector made a successful bid of ¥203 million in a nishikigoi ...
Japan's manufacturing activity shrinks for first time since 2016 amid U.S.-China trade war: survey
Manufacturing activity contracted in February for the first time in 2½ years as domestic and export orders fell and factories cut output, a private business survey showed on Thursday. The survey also showed business confidence had soured for the first time in more than six ...
U.S. and China are sketching out statements on six issues that could halt trade war, sources say
The United States and China have started to outline commitments in principle on the stickiest issues in their trade dispute, marking the most significant progress yet toward ending a seven-month trade war, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. The world's two largest economies have ...
China has pledged to end market-distorting subsidies for its domestic industries but offered no details on how it would achieve that goal, according to three people familiar with the U.S.-China trade talks in Beijing this week. China promised to bring all subsidy programs into compliance ...
Japan's economy shows modest rebound in October-December quarter
Compared with the previous quarter, the world’s third-largest economy grew a real 0.3 percent, according to preliminary figures from the Cabinet Office.
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries exports in 2018 grew 12.4 percent from a year earlier to hit a record high for the sixth straight year, buoyed by strong demand from other Asian nations, the farm ministry said Friday. The preliminary figure of ¥906.8 billion ($8.3 billion) ...
Australia finds a ready Japan market for 'pest' sea urchin
The island of Tasmania has long been renowned for producing some of Australia's tastiest seafood. But when warming seas allowed a foreign species of sea urchin to move farther south, devastating valuable fisheries, local businesses tried to innovate and ended up fostering a new industry ...
As new free trade pact comes into force, Japan and EU tout deal's benefits
Japan and the European Union on Friday celebrated the entry into force of a free trade agreement between them, with officials from both sides hopeful about the potential business and economic opportunities available in a new marketplace of over 600 million people. For Japan, the ...
