U.S. Trade Deficit Falls Sharply, Down 57.6 Percent From a Year EarlierJohn Carney 12 Mar 2026
The U.S. trade deficit narrowed sharply in January, falling by more than half from a year earlier in a report that offered the clearest sign yet of how dramatically America’s trade position has shifted during President Donald Trump’s first year back in office.
The Commerce Department said Thursday that the goods and services deficit fell to $54.5 billion in January, down from $128.4 billion in the same month a year ago. That marked a decline of $73.9 billion, or 57.6 percent.
Exports rose to $302.1 billion in January, up $28.4 billion, or 10.4 percent, from a year earlier. Imports fell to $356.6 billion, down $45.5 billion, or 11.3 percent.
The improvement was especially striking in goods trade, where the deficit fell to $81.8 billion from $155.6 billion a year earlier. Goods exports climbed to $195.5 billion from $173.4 billion, while goods imports dropped to $277.3 billion from $329.0 billion.
The January figures suggest that the administration’s tariff-centered trade strategy coincided with a major narrowing in the trade gap over the past 12 months, even as critics warned that higher import duties would raise costs without shrinking the country’s trade deficit.
From December, the overall trade deficit fell by $18.4 billion from a revised $72.9 billion. Exports rose $15.8 billion on the month, while imports slipped $2.6 billion.
more
https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2026/03/12/trade-deficit-january-2026/
