TOKYO: Japan's exports to the United States plummeted 13.8 per cent in August compared to the same month the previous year, marking the fifth straight month of declines, as auto exports were hit by President Donald Trump's tariffs.

The Finance Ministry data released Wednesday showed the rate of the drop in exports to the US compared to the previous year worsened from a 10.1 per cent slip in July.

US tariffs on Japanese automobiles and auto parts decreased from 27.5 per cent, the amount Trump initially levied, to 15 per cent this week, but that's still higher than the original 2.5 per cent.

Wednesday's data reflect the month of August, when the tariffs were higher. Japan's overall exports were little changed, slipping 0.1 per cent, as exports grew to Europe and the Middle East.

The provisional data for August showed Japan's imports from the world fell 5.2 per cent from a year ago. Imports from China grew 2.1 per cent, while exports to China fell 0.5 per cent. Imports from the US grew 11.6 per cent.

Exports to the world grew in food, gaining 18 per cent, as well as in ships, growing by nearly 25 per cent. Imports grew in computers, adding nearly 35% on-year, while aircraft rose 21 per cent