Japan exports down but slowly recovers amid pandemic damage

TOKYO (AP) — The drop in Japanese exports diminished last month, according to government data released Monday, underlining how trade damage from the coronavirus pandemic may be easing. Japan’s exports in September were down by 4.9% from the same month a year ago, better than the nearly 15% decline recorded in August, Finance Ministry data showed. The nation’s imports fell 17.2% overall, but exports to China gained 14%, the ministry said. Exports…