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Alarm Bell Rings in Tokyo at Rapid Rise in German Exports to China
Losing out in Asia to European Rival
Angela Merkel, Germany's Chancellor, left, speaks as Shinzo Abe, Japan's prime minister, looks on during a news conference in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, March 9, 2015.
Photographer: Kiyoshi OtaThis article is for subscribers only.
As if Japan didn't have enough economic problems to overcome, officials in Tokyo have identified another worrying trend: lagging export growth to China.
Rapid gains in German shipments to China have caught their attention, with exports from the European powerhouse doubling in value since 2008 and reaching 74.5 billion euros ($82.5 billion) last year.