Japan's exports expanded faster than expected in October, led by a pick-up in chip equipment demand in China, though fears persist over potential U.S. protectionist trade policies that could hamper future shipments. Japanese businesses are weighing the impact of new and potentially hefty tariffs promised by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump that could disrupt international trade. Total exports in October rose 3.1% from a year earlier, data from the Ministry of Finance showed on Wednesday, rebounding from a 1.7% drop in September and outpacing a median forecast in a Reuters poll of a 2.2% increase.