The U.S. trade deficit totaled $43.5 billion for September, a 1.7 percent increase from August, as rising exports were offset by an even higher increase in imports.
The U.S. trade deficit ticked up another 1.7 percent between August and September to $43.5 billion as rising exports were offset by an even higher increase in imports.
During the month, U.S. exports stood at $196.8 billion, inching up 1.1 percent from August, while the nation’s imports totaled $240.3 billion, rising 1.2 percent, according to data released by the U.S. Commerce Department.
The September figures show goods surpluses with Hong Kong ($2.7 billion), South and Central America ($2.2 billion), Brazil ($800 million), United Kingdom ($700 million), Singapore ($700 million), OPEC ($600 million), Saudi Arabia ($600 million) and Canada ($100 million). However, goods deficits were recorded with China ($29.9 billion), the European Union ($14.6 billion), Germany ($5.9 billion), Japan ($5.9 billion), Mexico ($5.1 billion), Italy ($2.9 billion), South Korea ($2.4 billion), India ($2.3 billion), Taiwan ($1.5 billion) and France ($1.2 billion).
For the first nine months of 2017, the U.S. trade deficit totaled $405.2 billion, a 9.3 percent increase from the same timeframe in 2016, despite continued promises by President Donald Trump to reduce or eliminate the deficit in trade in goods and services entirely.
U.S. trade deficit inches up in September
