Japan's exports to the United States fell 3.1 percent in October from a year earlier to 1.75 trillion yen ($11.1 billion), down for the seventh straight month, although the pace of decline eased due to a bilateral deal to reduce U.S. car tariffs, government data showed Friday. The trade surplus with the United States shrank 33.6 percent to 529.4 billion yen, as imports climbed 20.9 percent to 1.22 trillion yen, a record high for October, driven by airplane purchases, the Finance Ministry said in a preliminary report. Tokyo and Washington agreed in July to lower vehicle duties to 15 percent from 27.5 percent imposed earlier by President Donald Trump, with the new rate taking effect in mid-September.