The strength of the yen has hurt Japan by making its exports less competitive and eroding exporters' overseas profits.
The American slowdown may be less helpful for exporters.
Stagnant productivity has held down wages and made exporters less competitive.
In August, when the real depreciated a little, that debt became less onerous as exporters' extra earnings boosted tax revenues.
That would make Chinese exporters less competitive but not deter the budding consumers the country hopes to promote.
The U.S. energy boom has added additional appeal, offering America's friends and allies an alternative to less predictable energy exporters like Russia.
Mr. De Gucht said Thursday he was concerned about Mr. Chen's remarks to the newspaper and whether they might signal a Chinese decision to provide even more — not less — assistance to exporters.
The Ex-Im charges exporters less than a private lender might, which makes its aid a sort of government subsidy.
Likewise, there are signs of exporters becoming less dependent on the slow-moving European market.
Its rise will help exporters in less vibrant parts of the world, notably Europe.
