TOKYO: Japan on Wednesday posted its first trade surplus in almost three years as exports to North America soared and energy bills fell, giving an important psychological boost to Tokyo’s bid to revive the flagging economy.

Finance ministry data showed exports rose 8.5 percent while imports fell 14.5 percent, leaving a surplus of 229.3 billion yen ($1.9 billion), the first time Japan’s trade balance has been in the black since June 2012.

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