Japan’s trade surplus with US shrinks further

JAPAN’S politically sensitive trade surplus with the US shrank further in October, the fourth consecutive monthly decline, official data showed on Monday. The figure also showed an overall global trade deficit, as increases in imports of crude oil and liquefied natural gas overwhelmed a rise in exports of cars and engines. The surplus with the US came in at 573.4 billion yen ($5 billion) in October, a yearon-year decline of 11.0 per cent. Exports of automobiles, engines and machines used for aircraft rose while imports of grains, liquefied petroleum gas and crude also grew.