Does the US actually have a "trade imbalance"?

[frigidweirdo]

So, we can see by looking at the chart below that the US imports far, far more than it exports to some countries.

US Trade Deficit by Country 2025

worldpopulationreview.com

However there are plenty of countries, like the UK, Australia, Hong Kong etc which import more from the US than export. Though I'm sure different charts will show different figures.

The U.S. Trade Balance with Every Country | The Motley Fool

The latest data on the U.S. trade in goods surplus and deficits by country.

www.fool.com

This one however suggests Australia and the UK again are actually on the unfair side of things. Which asks the question why Trump said the UK do bad things, and why he put a 10% tariff on the UK.

The problem however with trade imbalances is this. Say for example the Dutch and the British, they have lots of big companies, like Shell. Shell is on the stock market, it's primarily a Dutch and UK company, however I'm sure lots of Americans benefit from Shell's profits, they might own Shell shares and thus make money

So when Shell export things to the US, it's not a simple case of "the US is paying this and adding to a trade deficit" because money is also entering the US.

The US is a wealthy country with lots of wealthy individuals who own lots of shares.

The wealthiest 10% of Americans own 93% of stocks even with market participation at a record high

America's richest have never owned so much of the country's stock market, according to Federal Reserve data.

markets.businessinsider.com

"The wealthiest 10% of Americans own 93% of stocks even with market participation at a record high"

So this article suggests that the vast majority of US shares are owned by Americans, and by the richest 10%.

This suggests that the US actually benefits from a "trade imbalance", it makes money from "losing money".....

Trump is playing "victim politics". Like with Brexit in the UK, like with the AfD in Germany, like with le Penn in France and many, many others. They know that shouting "you're the victim, vote me, I'll sort it out" gets many votes from people with questionable intelligence. The problem here is their solutions are often based on misinformation or just pure stupidity.

 

[cnm]

Does the US actually have a "trade imbalance"?​

Actuality is not the point here, it has no bearing.
The point is personal power wielded for pleasure and profit.

 

[j-mac]

More gaslighting

 

[Captain Caveman]

So, we can see by looking at the chart below that the US imports far, far more than it exports to some countries.

US Trade Deficit by Country 2025

worldpopulationreview.com

However there are plenty of countries, like the UK, Australia, Hong Kong etc which import more from the US than export. Though I'm sure different charts will show different figures.

The U.S. Trade Balance with Every Country | The Motley Fool

The latest data on the U.S. trade in goods surplus and deficits by country.

www.fool.com

This one however suggests Australia and the UK again are actually on the unfair side of things. Which asks the question why Trump said the UK do bad things, and why he put a 10% tariff on the UK.

The problem however with trade imbalances is this. Say for example the Dutch and the British, they have lots of big companies, like Shell. Shell is on the stock market, it's primarily a Dutch and UK company, however I'm sure lots of Americans benefit from Shell's profits, they might own Shell shares and thus make money

So when Shell export things to the US, it's not a simple case of "the US is paying this and adding to a trade deficit" because money is also entering the US.

The US is a wealthy country with lots of wealthy individuals who own lots of shares.

The wealthiest 10% of Americans own 93% of stocks even with market participation at a record high

America's richest have never owned so much of the country's stock market, according to Federal Reserve data.

markets.businessinsider.com

"The wealthiest 10% of Americans own 93% of stocks even with market participation at a record high"

So this article suggests that the vast majority of US shares are owned by Americans, and by the richest 10%.

This suggests that the US actually benefits from a "trade imbalance", it makes money from "losing money".....

Trump is playing "victim politics". Like with Brexit in the UK, like with the AfD in Germany, like with le Penn in France and many, many others. They know that shouting "you're the victim, vote me, I'll sort it out" gets many votes from people with questionable intelligence. The problem here is their solutions are often based on misinformation or just pure stupidity.

Correct, the UK imports nearly $30 billion more than it exports to the US. Trump put 10% tariffs on. I would reciprocate like for like, but we have the most inept wet fanny in the entire UK's history in No.10 that doesn't like hurty words.

Any imbalance could be due to not being able to supply those raw materials in your own country, and/or the market determined those products for use and sale.

 

[Mac1958]

Trump is playing "victim politics".

You always want to optimize trade policy. But Trump has always had a fetish on this topic, he told his rubes that this was a BIG FUCKIN' EMERGENCY, and they bought it as always. He is constantly playing the innocent victim.

Trump doesnt understand that tariffs are a tool, not a bludgeon. But this is all he knows. So now global markets have been turned upside down and we've become an international pariah.

However this turns out, none of the rubes are going to see a material change in their lives over this. Just more Trumpian showbiz for the fans.

 

[cnm]

However this turns out, none of the rubes are going to see a material change in their lives over this. Just more Trumpian showbiz for the fans.

I can't believe consumer prices in the US won't rise faster than they would have before the showdown at Yellow Bluff...

 

[Mac1958]

I can't believe consumer prices in the US won't rise faster than they would have before the showdown at Yellow Bluff...

Theoretically true, but there's no way of knowing how long it will be before he changes his damn mind again.

He could totally fold and claim victory. I just want them to get this crap over with before they cause any more damage to markets.

 

[frigidweirdo]

You always want to optimize trade policy. But Trump has always had a fetish on this topic, he told his rubes that this was a BIG FUCKIN' EMERGENCY, and they bought it as always. He is constantly playing the innocent victim.

Trump doesnt understand that tariffs are a tool, not a bludgeon. But this is all he knows. So now global markets have been turned upside down and we've become an international pariah.

However this turns out, none of the rubes are going to see a material change in their lives over this. Just more Trumpian showbiz for the fans.

Yep, once a bully, always a bully.

 

[j-mac]

All they have to do is agree to let us sell in their markets, as much as they sell in ours…what’s wrong with that?

 

[Dekster]

So, we can see by looking at the chart below that the US imports far, far more than it exports to some countries.

US Trade Deficit by Country 2025

worldpopulationreview.com

However there are plenty of countries, like the UK, Australia, Hong Kong etc which import more from the US than export. Though I'm sure different charts will show different figures.

The U.S. Trade Balance with Every Country | The Motley Fool

The latest data on the U.S. trade in goods surplus and deficits by country.

www.fool.com

This one however suggests Australia and the UK again are actually on the unfair side of things. Which asks the question why Trump said the UK do bad things, and why he put a 10% tariff on the UK.

The problem however with trade imbalances is this. Say for example the Dutch and the British, they have lots of big companies, like Shell. Shell is on the stock market, it's primarily a Dutch and UK company, however I'm sure lots of Americans benefit from Shell's profits, they might own Shell shares and thus make money

So when Shell export things to the US, it's not a simple case of "the US is paying this and adding to a trade deficit" because money is also entering the US.

The US is a wealthy country with lots of wealthy individuals who own lots of shares.

The wealthiest 10% of Americans own 93% of stocks even with market participation at a record high

America's richest have never owned so much of the country's stock market, according to Federal Reserve data.

markets.businessinsider.com

"The wealthiest 10% of Americans own 93% of stocks even with market participation at a record high"

So this article suggests that the vast majority of US shares are owned by Americans, and by the richest 10%.

This suggests that the US actually benefits from a "trade imbalance", it makes money from "losing money".....

Trump is playing "victim politics". Like with Brexit in the UK, like with the AfD in Germany, like with le Penn in France and many, many others. They know that shouting "you're the victim, vote me, I'll sort it out" gets many votes from people with questionable intelligence. The problem here is their solutions are often based on misinformation or just pure stupidity.

If everything were equal there would be no money for foreign companies to invest in the US or buy US treasuries with. The US dollar would no longer be the world's reserve currency and dollars could not be used to buy oil except when the US was the buyer. It doesn't matter who owns stocks or profits from them. It all comes down to the ability to move currency, and park excess currency.

 

[JohnDB]

 

[cnm]

All they have to do is agree to let us sell in their markets, as much as they sell in ours…what’s wrong with that?

Apparently that's offensive enough for an arbitrary 10% tariff.

Oh well.

 

[22lcidw]

You always want to optimize trade policy. But Trump has always had a fetish on this topic, he told his rubes that this was a BIG FUCKIN' EMERGENCY, and they bought it as always. He is constantly playing the innocent victim.

Trump doesnt understand that tariffs are a tool, not a bludgeon. But this is all he knows. So now global markets have been turned upside down and we've become an international pariah.

However this turns out, none of the rubes are going to see a material change in their lives over this. Just more Trumpian showbiz for the fans.

The rest of the politicians did nothing. Not a thing. Nations die. And you guys do not think anything of it as the fiat currency in your minds fixes everything as we can run the printing machinery 24 hours a day.

 

[j-mac]

Apparently that's offensive enough for an arbitrary 10% tariff.

Oh well.

Good…unfair, is unfair.

 

[cnm]

Good…unfair, is unfair.

It's more amusing as each condition set is dismissed when met and goal posts frantically shifted in order to defend Chump's looking for profit opportunities in the chaos he creates.

 

[DBA]

It's more amusing as each condition set is dismissed when met and goal posts frantically shifted in order to defend Chump's looking for profit opportunities in the chaos he creates.

You have obviously never negotiated a deal in your life other than for your used Prius.

 

[SeaMajor7]

So, we can see by looking at the chart below that the US imports far, far more than it exports to some countries.

US Trade Deficit by Country 2025

worldpopulationreview.com

However there are plenty of countries, like the UK, Australia, Hong Kong etc which import more from the US than export. Though I'm sure different charts will show different figures.

The U.S. Trade Balance with Every Country | The Motley Fool

The latest data on the U.S. trade in goods surplus and deficits by country.

www.fool.com

This one however suggests Australia and the UK again are actually on the unfair side of things. Which asks the question why Trump said the UK do bad things, and why he put a 10% tariff on the UK.

The problem however with trade imbalances is this. Say for example the Dutch and the British, they have lots of big companies, like Shell. Shell is on the stock market, it's primarily a Dutch and UK company, however I'm sure lots of Americans benefit from Shell's profits, they might own Shell shares and thus make money

So when Shell export things to the US, it's not a simple case of "the US is paying this and adding to a trade deficit" because money is also entering the US.

The US is a wealthy country with lots of wealthy individuals who own lots of shares.

The wealthiest 10% of Americans own 93% of stocks even with market participation at a record high

America's richest have never owned so much of the country's stock market, according to Federal Reserve data.

markets.businessinsider.com

"The wealthiest 10% of Americans own 93% of stocks even with market participation at a record high"

So this article suggests that the vast majority of US shares are owned by Americans, and by the richest 10%.

This suggests that the US actually benefits from a "trade imbalance", it makes money from "losing money".....

Trump is playing "victim politics". Like with Brexit in the UK, like with the AfD in Germany, like with le Penn in France and many, many others. They know that shouting "you're the victim, vote me, I'll sort it out" gets many votes from people with questionable intelligence. The problem here is their solutions are often based on misinformation or just pure stupidity.

GASLIGHT THEATRE BULLSHIT

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

Does the US actually have a "trade imbalance"?​

Yes.

 

[Rigby5]

In my opinion, that most important problem is that we should not have allowed our production to be outsourced offshore.
The problem is that we do not make TVs, cellphones, computers, etc., in the US any more.
The only point of tariffs is to use them as a theoretical threat.
You threaten companies that if they leave the US to produce with cheaper labor, then they won't be allowed free access to our markets any more when they want to sell their products. Otherwise, tariffs are really bad for everyone.
So what Trump has to do is first get new production companies started in the US.
And only then impose tariffs.