Japan more downbeat on growth
(WorldNews Japan)

TOKYO. Japan´s government downgraded its assessment of the economy on Friday but maintained the view it was recovering, suggesting that escalating US-China trade tensions have yet to hit growth enough to put off this year´s scheduled sales tax hike. The fallout from the trade war and slowing global demand have clouded the outlook for the export-reliant economy, keeping alive market expectations that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may postpone a twice-delayed increase in the sales tax in October. But Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi shrugged off such speculation, saying Japan should proceed with the tax hike. Japan...