Storyline: Japan's exports fell 2.6 percent in July from a year earlier, the steepest decline since February 2021 and a sharper drop than economists have expected. Shipments to the United States tumbled 10.1 percent than the same period of last year, marking the fourth straight monthly fall, as higher U.S. tariffs weighed on trade. Auto exports plunged 28.4 percent year on year, a deeper contraction than in June, underscoring the mounting impact of U.S. tariff policies. Meanwhile, Japanese shares slid in pre-market trading. The benchmark Nikkei 225 dropped more than 700 points at one stage, pressured by an overnight sell-off in U.S. tech stocks and investor jitters after U.S. President Donald Trump said he was considering new tariffs on imported semiconductors. Shotlist: FILE: Tokyo, Japan - 2024: 1. Various of cityscape FILE: Tokyo, Japan - 2024: 2. Various of National Diet building, national flag Tokyo, Japan - July 23, 2025: 3. Various of traffic, pedestrians FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Date Unknown: 4. Various of port scene; ships 5. Various of trucks, vehicles at port FILE: Washington D.C., USA - October 2024: 6. Various of White House 7. Various of Capitol Hill, U.S. national flag FILE: Los Angeles, USA - Date Unknown: 8. Various of Port of Los Angeles. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]