Earlier this month, weak household spending data raised doubt about Japan 's ability to ride out a potential trade war.While the World Trade Organization on Thursday forecast a robust recovery in global trade, it warned this could falter if tensions escalate further. Earlier this week Trump tweeted that Japan had "hit us hard on trade for years! "Data from Japan due at the same time are likely to show its exports rose for a 16th month running - potentially grist to the mill for Trump's gripes.Investors will be braced for any sign of a protectionist approach towards Japan. "It is a risk," said Akihiro Morishige, senior researcher at Mitsubishi Research Institute. "The financial markets could become volatile if things get intense.

Source: Economic Times April 13, 2018 16:52 UTC