Japan’s Exports to U.S. Log 1st Rise in 8 Months in Nov.

Tokyo, Dec. 17 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s exports to the United States in November increased 8.8 pct from a year earlier to 1,816.9 billion yen, up for the first time in eight months, preliminary customs-cleared trade data from the Finance Ministry showed Wednesday. The rebound followed a slump reflecting the high tariff policy of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Exports of medical products and automobiles were robust in the latest reporting month. Japan posted an overall trade surplus of 322.3 billion yen in November, the first black ink in five months. Japan’s trade surplus with the United States increased 11.3 pct to 739.8 billion yen, marking the first growth in seven months. Medical goods and mineral fuel exports to the United States increased sharply. Vehicle exports inched up 1.5 pct to 499.7 billion yen, apparently helped by a cut in U.S. automobile tariffs under a Japan-U.S. agreement. Automobile shipments to the United States grew also in volume. Japan’s overall exports went up 6.1 pct to 9,714.7 billion yen. Exports to the rest of Asia rose 4.5 pct thanks to strong shipments of electronic components such as semiconductors. But exports to China fell 2.4 pct because of decreases for semiconductor-manufacturing equipment and nonferrous metals. Japan’s overall imports grew 1.3 pct to 9,392.4 billion yen. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]