Japan racked up a trade deficit in October for a fourth straight month as a weak yen and the rising price of energy kept import costs high.
The trade deficit, which amounts to a nation's imports subtracted from its exports, totaled 461 billion yen 3 billion in red ink last month, the Finance Ministry reported Wednesday.
Japan's exports in October managed to recover from a slowdown over the recent months, gaining 3.1 from the same month a year earlier, as shipments grew in equipment for semiconductor production.
But imports, which grew 0.4 from the previous year, were still bigger than exports.
A major uncertainty over trade is looming because of the reelection of Donald Trump as U.S. president. Worries are great about portending higher tariffs.
