JAPAN’S politically sensitive trade surplus with the United States shrank further in October, the fourth consecutive monthly decline, official data showed yesterday.

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 United States came in at 573.4 billion yen (US$5 billion) in October, a year-on-year decline of 11 percent.

Exports of automobiles, engines and machines used for aircraft rose while imports of grains, liquefied petroleum gas and crude also grew.

U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly described Japan as his next target after China as he seeks to reduce the U.S. trade deficit.

And Vice President Mike Pence reiterated last week Washington’s position that U.S. businesses have faced unfair obstacles in Japan.

“The United States has had a trade imbalance with Japan for too long. American products and services too often face barriers to compete fairly in Japanese markets,” he said, after talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo.

Japan has watched nervously as Trump’s government has imposed tariffs on Chinese goods. U.S. and Japanese officials are expected to begin trade talks in January.

Japan logged an overall global trade deficit of 449.3 billion yen, the first deficit in the past two months, as imports rose 19.9 percent while exports grew just 8.2 percent.

The deficit with China jumped 52.1 percent, logging the seventh consecutive monthly deficit.

(SD-Agencies)