U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs may have put an end to the Bank of Japan's rate-hike cycle, with the chance of further interest rate increases fading fast due to the expected hit to exports, former BOJ policymaker Takako Masai said on Thursday. Uncertainty over U.S. trade policy is causing huge disruptions in the global economy that will likely hit Japan's exports, output, wage growth and consumption, said Masai, who retains close contact with incumbent policymakers. U.S. automobile tariffs are particularly damaging due to the huge role the industry plays in Japan's economy, Masai said. "The real test to ... (full story)