TOKYO: Japan’s exports were expected to rise for a 16th straight month in March and to maintain a rising trend, but the strong yen was seen likely to curb the pace of growth, a Reuters poll showed on Friday.
The trade data will be closely watched ahead of talks next week between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump, with trade issues expected to be high on the agenda.
Exports were seen likely to have grown 4.7 percent in March from a year earlier after a 1.8 percent rise in February, the poll of 19 economists found.Imports were expected to show a 5.4 percent gain for the month, slowing substantially from a revised 16.6 percent in February, while the March trade surplus was seen at 498 billion yen ($4.6 billion).
