China becomes Japan's largest trading partner

China overtook the US to become Japan's largest trading partner for the year through March, the Japanese government announced Wednesday. Japanese exports to China were up 21.2% from the previous fiscal year to US$95.32 billion, while imports from China rose 13% to US$118.9 billion. Semiconductors and electronic products were the major exports and auto and metals were the key imports. The total value of Sino-Japanese trade – which does not include figures for Hong Kong – increased 9.6%. If Hong Kong is included in the China total, then trade with China exceeded trade with the US back in 2004, AP reported. Japan's trade deficit with China for the fiscal year was US$23.61 billion.