1st LD Writethru: Japan books 5.4-bln-USD trade deficit in November

TOKYO, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Japan logged a customs-cleared trade deficit of 776.9 billion yen (about 5.4 billion U.S. dollars) in November, as exports saw the first year-on-year decline in three months, government data showed Wednesday.

The deficit, marking the second straight month of shortfall, narrowed by 62.2 percent from a year earlier, according to the Finance Ministry's preliminary report.

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