Japan logged a goods trade deficit of ¥249.6 billion in July, weighed down by a decrease in exports to China amid Beijing's ongoing trade conflict with Washington, according to government data released Monday.

The preliminary reading for July followed a revised ¥589.6 billion surplus for June, the Finance Ministry said.

Exports fell 1.6 percent in July from a year earlier to ¥6.64 trillion, down for the eighth consecutive month, and imports were down 1.2 percent to ¥6.89 trillion, declining for the third straight month, the ministry said.