Japan’s trade balance flips to deficit as Yen inflates imports

Japan posts first trade deficit in four months as weak yen inflates import values, exports surge on AI tech demand, BOJ hikes rates, US tariffs stay capped under last years deal By Bloomberg Japan’s trade balance swung to a deficit for the first time in four months as the weak yen inflated the value of imports, even as volumes fell. The trade balance flipped to a ¥378.6 billion ($2.36 billion) deficit in May on an unadjusted basis, the Finance Ministry reported Wednesday. Analysts had forecast a ¥547.6 billion deficit. The value of imports increased 12.5% in May from a year…