Japan’s exports fell for the fourth consecutive month as U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs continued to cloud the prospects for global commerce, especially for trade involving the United States.
Exports edged down 0.1% in August from a year earlier, led by cars and steel, the Finance Ministry reported Wednesday. Gains in shipments to Asia and the European Union helped limit the drop. Economists had forecast a 2.0% fall. At the same time, Japan saw the largest drop in the value of shipments to the U.S. in more than four years.
Overall, Japan’s trade balance was in the red, with a ¥242.5 billion ($1.7 billion) deficit. Imports declined by 5.2%, compared with the consensus estimate of a 4.1% retreat.
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