New Delhi, Nov. 17 -- Japan's economy sank at an annualized rate of 1.8% in the July-September period, government data showed Monday, as President Donald Trump's tariffs sent the nation's exports spiraling.

On a quarter-by-quarter basis, Japan's gross domestic product, or GDP, or the sum value of a nation's goods and services, slipped 0.4%, in the first contraction in six quarters, the Cabinet Office said.

The annualized rate shows what the economy would have done if the same rate were to continue for a year. The fall was still smaller than the 0.6% drop the market had expected.

A big decline during the quarter came in exports, which were 1.2% down from the previous quarter.

Some businesses had sped up exports, when they could, to bea...