Japan’s April-Sept. Exports to U.S. Slump amid Trump Tariffs

Tokyo, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s U.S.-bound exports in the April-September first half of fiscal 2025 slumped 10.2 pct from a year before to 9,711.5 billion yen, due to a tumble in automobile shipments reflecting the impact of the high tariff policy of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, government data showed Wednesday. On a fiscal half-year basis, exports to the United States fell for the first time since the 2.5 pct drop in the second half of fiscal 2020, according to the preliminary customs-cleared trade data from the Ministry of Finance. U.S.-bound vehicle exports plunged 22.7 pct to 2,389 billion yen. By volume, automobile exports shrank 2.4 pct. To curb rises in vehicle prices in the U.S. market reflecting the high tariffs, Japanese automakers may be shouldering the tariff costs themselves, sources familiar with the matter said. The United States began imposing additional tariffs on imported automobiles in April. The tariffs on Japanese vehicles were lowered in September following a Japan-U.S. agreement. According to the MOF data, Japan logged a customs-cleared trade deficit of 1,223.8 billion yen in April-September, running a deficit for nine consecutive half-year periods. Exports rose 0.2 pct year on year to 53,653.3 billion yen. While exports of semiconductors and other electronic parts gained 4.2 pct, those of automobiles shrank 6.7 pct. Imports fell 3.2 pct to 54,877.1 billion yen, with crude oil and coal imports dropping 15.7 pct and 31.6 pct, respectively. In September alone, Japan posted a trade deficit of 234.6 billion yen, marking the third consecutive month of red ink. U.S.-bound exports decreased 13.3 pct. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]