Japan exports rose at faster pace before Trump tariffs took effect

Japan’s exports in February grew by 11.4% year-on-year, partly driven by companies stockpiling goods in anticipation of impending US tariffs. This was reported by Bloomberg.

While the median growth estimate from Bloomberg economists had projected a stronger increase of 12.6%, the figure still marked the fifth consecutive month of growth. Meanwhile, imports fell by 0.7%, resulting in a trade surplus of 584.5 billion yen ($3.9 billion).

Ongoing trade tensions with the US pose risks to Japan’s economy, particularly due to tariffs already imposed on steel and aluminum, and potential future levies on automobiles. Bloomberg notes that the US has long criticized Japan’s road safety standards, arguing they restrict american car exports to Japan.

According to a Bloomberg News poll, Japanese companies are stockpiling goods in the United States to mitigate the potential impact of the duties.