Japan records a trade deficit in October for a 4th straight month, despite export recovery

AP Business Writer

TOKYO (AP) — Japan racked up a trade deficit in October for the fourth month in a row, as a weak yen and rising energy prices kept import costs high. The Finance Ministry said Wednesday that the red ink totaled 461 billion yen, or $3 billion. Japan’s exports expanded 3.1% in October from a year earlier on growing shipments of equipment for semiconductor production. But imports, which grew 0.4%, were still bigger than exports. A major uncertainty over trade is looming because of the reelection of Donald Trump as U.S. president, since he has said he favors sharp increases in tariffs on imports.