Japan's imports in FY2026 1H (Apr–Sep) reached a record 66.2753 trillion yen, up 20.4% YoY, driving a wider trade shortfall, Ministry of Finance data released on the 21st showed. Crude oil imports rose 26.3% to 5.7439 trillion yen as Japan sought alternative routes to avoid the Strait of Hormuz amid Middle East unrest, lifting import costs. Exports climbed 18.4% to 63.4569 trillion yen, the highest since 1979, led by semiconductors, electronic components and stronger US-bound auto shipments. The

US Treasury Secretary Bessent said Iran's economy will at some point enter a nonlinear state.

APEC finance ministers met in Hong Kong on Oct. 20-21, 2026 and issued a policy statement encouraging members to develop reliable, accessible, scalable, trustworthy, secure and resilient digital infrastructure. The statement calls for improving digital literacy and skills, enhancing interoperability and strengthening cross-border digital connectivity to accelerate Asia‑Pacific digitalisation. It endorses voluntary, non‑binding cooperation under APEC finance and fiscal mechanisms to advance digital infrastructure financing. The statement urges the private sector to deploy catalytic financing tools — including financing leases and asset securitisation — to unlock investment and lower financing barriers, and to scale up capital mobilisation by integrating pension funds, insurers and sovereign wealth funds.