Japan’s export growth accelerated in August from the previous month, supported by stronger shipments to the United States, in a sign that escalating trade
Japan’s export growth accelerated in August from the previous month, supported by stronger shipments to the United States, in a sign that escalating trade friction between Washington and Beijing has yet to hit Japanese trade.
But the rise in exports to the United States could put Tokyo under pressure from President Donald Trump ahead of bilateral trade talks expected later this month, some analysts say.
Japanese policymakers also worry over the impact on the country’s exports as the United States and China dive deeper into a trade war.
Beijing has added $60 billion of U. S. products to its import tariff list in retaliation for Trump’s latest planned levies on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.
But there are few signs of material damage so far.
Japanese exports rose 6.6 percent in August from a year earlier, exceeding a 3.9 percent gain in July, finance ministry data showed Wednesday.
The nation’s exports to the United States rose 5.3 percent in the year to August, the first gain in three months, led by medicines, construction and mining machinery.
U. S.-bound car exports fell for a third straight month, pulling back from last year’s brisk shipments.
However, the trade data also showed imports from the United States surged 21.5 percent in August, led by aircraft and liquefied natural gas, cutting Japan’s trade surplus with the United States by 14.
