U.S. trade deficit hits record high in 2025, with rising imports and falling exports drawing attention

Foreign Media: The US trade deficit sharply widened in December 2025, with the annual goods trade deficit reaching a record high.

Data from the US Department of Commerce shows that the trade deficit increased by 32.6% in December, reaching $70.3 billion, far exceeding economists' expectations of $55.5 billion. The goods trade deficit for the entire year of 2025 increased by 2.1%, reaching $124 billion.

Although the Trump administration implemented tariff policies to reduce the trade deficit, the effect was poor, and factory jobs also decreased by 83,000 positions. In December, imports increased by 3.6%, reaching $357.6 billion, with goods imports increasing by 3.8%. Exports fell by 1.7%, reaching $287.3 billion, with goods exports falling by 2.9%. In terms of services trade, imports increased by $2 billion, and exports increased by $5 billion.

This trade deficit data may lead economists to lower their fourth-quarter US GDP growth forecasts.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1857569203667972/

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