Japan has reported its exports grew at an 11% annual pace in February while imports declined slightly, leaving a surplus after two straight months of deficits as worries grow about President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes
ByYURI KAGEYAMA AP business writer
TOKYO — Japan has reported its exports grew at an 11.4% annual pace in February while imports declined slightly, leaving a surplus after two straight months of deficits as worries grow about President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes.
The stronger export growth yielded a trade surplus last month after two straight months of deficits, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.
Japan recorded a trade surplus of 584 billion yen ($3.9 billion) last month. It had a trade deficit of 415 billion yen the previous year. The surge in exports outpaced a 7% annual increase in January. Exports totaled 9.19 trillion yen ($61 billion), while imports fell 0.7% to 8.61 trillion yen ($57 billion).
In January, imports jumped nearly 17% year-on-year.
Japan’s exports have surged in recent months as businesses rushed to send overseas shipments before Trump’s tariffs kick in.
Higher U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum have already started, but the biggest threat to