Japan’s global exports rose 3.7% in October from a year earlier, while imports increased 0.6%, according to data released Friday by the Ministry of Finance.
Exports to the United States fell 3.1%, marking the seventh consecutive month of year-on-year declines as higher U.S. tariffs continued to weigh on shipments.
President Donald Trump announced a new trade framework with Japan in July, imposing a 15% tariff on goods imported from Japan, down from the initially planned 25% rate that was set to begin in August. Prior to this change, most imports faced a tariff of 2.5%.
The tariff increase remains a significant challenge for Japan, an export-driven economy and close U.S. ally. Strong demand across Asia is helping soften the impact.
Japan’s exports to China rose 2.1% in October, while exports to Hong Kong surged 19.2% and those to Taiwan climbed 17.7%.
On the import side, Japan’s purchases of soybeans from global suppliers jumped 37.3% year-on-year, while imports of iron and steel declined 17.1%.
Imports from the United States rose 20.9%, driven largely by petroleum and food products such as grains. Exports of computer parts, machinery and buses, and trucks to the U.S. experienced declines.
Japan’s overall trade deficit narrowed sharply to 231.77 billion yen (1.5 billion dollars) in October, compared with 499.95 billion yen a year earlier.
Fresh concerns have recently emerged over trade with China after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made remarks about Taiwan that angered Beijing, prompting Chinese authorities to issue a travel advisory against visiting Japan.
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