President Donald Trump claimed the U.S. trade deficit shrank by 78% because of his tariffs, but the trade gap widened more than expected in December after rebounding from a 16-year low and remained near a historical high last year.

The U.S. international trade in goods and services deficit increased 32.6% to $70.3B in December vs. $55.50B consensus and $53.00B in November (revised from $56.8B), according to data released by the U.

The U.S. trade deficit slipped modestly in 2025, a year in which President Donald Trump upended global commerce by slapping double digit tariffs on imports from most countries. But the gap in the trade of goods such machinery and aircraft — the main focus of Trump's protectionist policies — hit a record last year despite sweeping

US goods imports continued to outpace its exports last year, sending the country's trade deficit to a new high despite sweeping tariffs introduced by US President Donald Trump. The gap between the value of goods imported into the US and American products sold to other countries widened by 2.

The U.S. trade deficit widened sharply in December amid a surge in imports, and the goods shortfall in 2025 was the highest on record despite President Donald Trump's tariffs on foreign manufactured merchandise.

As he announced a broad set of new tariffs targeting imports from around the world, President Donald Trump declared his intention to reduce America's trade deficit. "Chronic trade deficits are no longer merely an economic problem,

Trade with China remains a major driver of the US deficit, even as imports shift towards Southeast Asia and other partners.

US trade deficit slipped modestly in 2025 as President Donald Trump upended global commerce with double digit tariffs.