Coronavirus adds to Japan's trade deficit amid growth fears

This marks the third straight month of a trade deficit for the world's third largest economy

The coronavirus is adding to concerns about Japan's economy.

Japan recorded a trade deficit for the month of January as exports declined amid worries about the spread of a new virus that could hurt regional economic growth.

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The trade deficit for last month totaled 1.3 trillion yen ($12 billion), the Japanese Finance Ministry said in a report.

That marked the third straight month of a trade deficit for the world's third largest economy.

The last month that Japan had a surplus was October, largely because falling crude oil prices offset a drop in exports.

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Both Japan's exports and imports to China fell in January, according to the ministry data. Exports and imports to the U.S. also fell for the month.

The outbreak of CODIV-19 that began late last year, halting factory production and crimping travel, has been worsening the worries about China's economy, a key driver of regional growth.

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Such worries added to those set off earlier by the trade policies of President Trump.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.