The US trade gap narrowed more than expected in October, government data showed Thursday, as imports slipped more than exports.
Trade imbalances in the world’s biggest economy are anticipated to become a focal point of President-elect Donald Trump’s second administration as he returns to the White House in January.
Trump has pledged to lower US trade deficits and in his first term from 2017-2021 engaged in a bruising tariffs war with the world’s second-biggest economy, China.
Overall in October, the US trade gap was down 11.9 percent to $73.8 billion, from a revised level of $83.8 billion in September, said the Commerce Department.
Behind the trend was a $14.3 billion drop in imports to $339.6 billion, the report said, with decreases seen in areas ranging from semiconductors to crude oil and consumer goods.
US exports also dipped though by a smaller amount of $4.3 billion to reach $265.7 billion in the month.
Declines in goods exports, such as those of autos, consumer goods and industrial supplies contributed to the trend, the Commerce Department added.
“A narrowing trade deficit supports national income growth, and GDP growth too,” economists at High Frequency Economics (HFE) said in a note. They added that this outcome is positive for economic indicators.
“However, the decline in export volumes is a drag on industrial production and services output,” HFE said.
Even before the new Trump administration assumes control of trade policy, the economists cautioned that the future of bilateral commerce with China “is unclear as trade sanctions are piling up already”.
The US goods deficit with Vietnam and the European Union both declined among nations and regions.
Trump has already promised high taxes on rival China and his neighbours Canada and Mexico only weeks before he takes office.