⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Japan's exports to the United States fell 11.1 percent year on year in May, according to preliminary data released by the country's Ministry of Finance on Wednesday. Analysts attributed the decline primarily to the impact of U.S. tariff policies. Data showed that Japan's exports to the United States totaled 1.514 trillion yen (around 10.41 billion U.S. dollars) this May, marking the second consecutive month of decline. The automotive sector was particularly hard-hit, with exports plunging 24.7 percent to 363.4 billion yen (around 2.5 billion U.S. dollars). "[The United States] imposes extremely high tariffs on the automotive industry, with 25 percent on automobiles and auto parts, which is very burdensome for Japan. The Japanese government hopes that the United States will lower these tariffs to 10 percent or even zero,”said Hideo Kumano, chief economist of the Economic Research Department at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute. Japanese experts have warned that the effects of U.S. trade policies are becoming increasingly obvious. Given the automotive industry's critical role in Japan's economy, Japan appears unwilling to make concessions in this regard, suggesting a prolonged stalemate in trade negotiations between the two nations. SHOTLIST: FILE: Tokyo, Japan - 2024 1. Aerial shots of cityscape, traffic; FILE: Japan - Exact Location and Date Unknown 2. Various of containers at port, gantry cranes handling containers; FILE: Japan - Date Unknown 3. Various of workers at automobile production line; Tokyo, Japan - Recent 4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Hideo Kumano, Chief Economist, Economic Research Department, Dai-ichi Life Research Institute: "[The United States] imposes extremely high tariffs on the automotive industry, with 25 percent on automobiles and auto parts, which is very burdensome for Japan. The Japanese government hopes that the United States will lower these tariffs to 10 percent or even zero.”; FILE: Tokyo, Japan - April 28, 2024 5. Various of pedestrians, traffic. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]