US Trade Gap Reaches New High

2025-05-06 12:33 By Joana Taborda 1 min. read

The US trade deficit widened to $140.5 billion in March 2025, reaching a fresh record high, compared to forecasts of a $137 billion shortfall.

Imports jumped 4.4% to an all-time high of $419 billion in anticipation of more tariff announcements in April.

Purchases rose for pharmaceutical preparations, passenger cars, and computer accessories but fell for finished metal shapes, nonmonetary gold, and crude oil.

Meanwhile, exports were up a meagre 0.2% but also topped a record $278.5 billion, led by passenger cars, natural gas, nonmonetary gold, and computer accessories but fell for civilian aircraft.

The US trade deficit widened sharply with the EU ($-48.3 billion vs $-30.9 billion), particularly Ireland ($-29.3 billion vs $-14 billion), and Vietnam ($-14.1 billion vs $-12.4 billion) but narrowed with China ($-24.8 billion vs $-26.6 billion), Switzerland ($-14.7 billion vs $-18.8 billion) and Canada ($-4.9 billion vs $-7.4 billion) and was little changed with Mexico at $16.7 billion.



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