Tariff bust: Trade deficit “ little changed” in 2025 - Wall Street journal

[Nostra]

thank you

and...

HEADLINE: "U.S. trade deficit remains high in 2025, despite Trump’s tariff policy"
Deficit in trade of goods hits a record. Trade shifts away from China to other Asian exporters.

HEADLINE: "In 2025, Trade Deficit in Goods Reached Record High"
Data released Thursday by the Census Bureau showed the overall trade deficit with the world narrowed, the result of an expanding trade surplus in services. The trade deficit in goods was the highest on record.

KEY POINTS:
For the full year, the U.S. ran a $901.5 billion trade deficit, down slightly from 2024 but only by 0.2%, or $2.1 billion.

The report follows a year in which President Donald Trump implemented a series of aggressive tariffs aimed at leveling the global playing field.

U.S. trade deficit totaled $901 billion in 2025, barely budging despite Trump's tariffs

The U.S. trade deficit swelled in December, closing out a year in which the imbalance was essentially unchanged.

www.cnbc.com

The U.S. trade deficit swelled in December, closing out a year in which the imbalance was essentially unchanged despite efforts by the Trump administration to close the wide gap.

Closing out a tumultuous year in the global marketplace, the goods and services shortfall in December totaled $70.3 billion, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. That marked an increase of $17.3 billion from November and was well above the Dow Jones consensus estimate of $55.5 billion.

For the full year, the U.S. ran a $901.5 billion deficit, down slightly from 2024 but only by 0.2%, or $2.1 billion. The total was also a bit less than the record $923.7 billion shortfall in 2022.

So it went down.

 

[Nostra]

Wow, the deficit even went UP in December. The tariffs ran out of juice even before the supreme court issues are ruling on them.

Went down for the year, Simp.

 

[westwall]

Went down for the year, Simp.

Marxists have a hard time with math.

 

[jknowgood]

Do tell us your forecast. How much will the deficit decrease this year, sweetie pie??

Tell us how these tariffs were going to destroy America. You know, you loons first prediction.

 

[Nostra]

Tell us how these tariffs were going to destroy America. You know, you loons first prediction.

We should be ass deep in a recession, if not depression, according to the Cult last spring.

 

[HikerGuy83]

Do tell us your forecast. How much will the deficit decrease this year, sweetie pie??

It dropped fiscal 2025 by 170 billion actually lowering it from the previous deficit.

This year we are about 100 billion low vs same time last year.

Did you need anything else?

 

[westwall]

It dropped fiscal 2025 by 170 billion actually lowering it from the previous deficit.

This year we are about 100 billion low vs same time last year.

Did you need anything else?

Jake has always needed a brain.

 

[my2¢]

Looking at the trade deficit charts it indicates to me that the reason it didn't change much in 2025 as compared to 2024 was obviously businesses were stocking up on imports in the 1st quarter to prepare for the upcoming tariffs. The announcement in tariffs came April 2nd. All one has to do is look at the before and after.
Link to charts source

 

[jc456]

To you? Based on an archive search, your gazillion comments about the trade deficit indicate it is the most important thing in the world to you.

and yet your rage goes on

 

[ThunderKiss1965]

Well, at this pace in 500 of 550 years of increased tariffs we might balance the trade deficit.

“
Imports to the U.S. grew to a record high in 2025, leaving the trade deficit little changed despite steep Trump administration tariffs aimed at closing trade gaps.

The nation’s trade deficit—the gap between imports and exports in both goods and services—was $901.5 billion last year…”

https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/u-s-trade-deficit-grew-in-december-da4afda5?mod=mhp

WSJ:

I didn't hear you idiot's complaining about tariffs Biden levied on China. 100% on electric vehicles, 25% on EV batteries, and a 50% solar cells . But that's different, right ? Because Trump.

 

[Conservative from Georgia]

So which is more important, the trade deficit or the GDP?

GDP!

Fourth-quarter U.S. GDP up just 1.4%, badly missing estimate; inflation firms at 3%

The core PCE price index was expected to increase 3% from a year ago in December. GDP was projected to rise at a 2.5% pace in Q4.

www.cnbc.com

 

[Frankeneinstein]

Well, at this pace in 500 of 550 years of increased tariffs we might balance the trade deficit.

“
Imports to the U.S. grew to a record high in 2025, leaving the trade deficit little changed despite steep Trump administration tariffs aimed at closing trade gaps.

The nation’s trade deficit—the gap between imports and exports in both goods and services—was $901.5 billion last year…”

based on your lack of information, what does this prove in terms of tariffs and the trade deficit? from your lack of information you seem to be claiming that it did nothing to change it, if so what difference do the tariffs make then? certainly nothing you posted makes that clear, in fact your post looks more like a cover up for all the gloom and doom predictions that never materialized.

 

[Hafar1014]

GDP!

Fourth-quarter U.S. GDP up just 1.4%, badly missing estimate; inflation firms at 3%

The core PCE price index was expected to increase 3% from a year ago in December. GDP was projected to rise at a 2.5% pace in Q4.

www.cnbc.com

Thank the democrat shutdown of the government for dropping GDP and disrupting the economy

 

[Mac-7]

Well, at this pace in 500 of 550 years of increased tariffs we might balance the trade deficit.

“
Imports to the U.S. grew to a record high in 2025, leaving the trade deficit little changed despite steep Trump administration tariffs aimed at closing trade gaps.

The nation’s trade deficit—the gap between imports and exports in both goods and services—was $901.5 billion last year…”

https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/u-s-trade-deficit-grew-in-december-da4afda5?mod=mhp

WSJ:

I like instant gratification as much as the next guy

But unlike libs and fake conservatives I dont expect trump to reverse 40 years of bad trade policy overnight

 

[candycorn]

You missed the point of the tariffs. Revenue is up. Trade deals are much more fair.
$18T in new CAPEX commitments is good for the US economy. GDP is up ~2.5%. The US economy is cranking up.
Who cares about the trade deficit when the economy is fantastic?

View attachment 1220970

$264B in new taxes on American companies is something you’re proud of?

 

[leftwinger]

The rate of increase slowed. Pure BS thread. $36B below estimated, expected. The TREND is down. You're welcome Stain. //

Key Trends (2014–2025):
2014: Trade deficit of -$792 billion
2015: -$813 billion
2016: -$799 billion
2017: -$862 billion
2018: -$950 billion
2019: -$924 billion
2020: -$982 billion
2021: -$1.18 trillion
2022: -$1.31 trillion
2023: -$1.25 trillion (estimated)
2024: -$1.12 trillion (estimated)
2025 (11 months): -$936.45 billio


U.S. trade deficit totaled $901 billion in 2025 despite Trump’s tariffs

 

[kyzr]

$264B in new taxes on American companies is something you’re proud of?

Hell yes. We need every dollar of revenue we can get to lower the DEFICIT.

 

[Conservative from Georgia]

The rate of increase slowed. Pure BS thread. $36B below estimated, expected. The TREND is down. You're welcome Stain. //

Key Trends (2014–2025):
2014: Trade deficit of -$792 billion
2015: -$813 billion
2016: -$799 billion
2017: -$862 billion
2018: -$950 billion
2019: -$924 billion
2020: -$982 billion
2021: -$1.18 trillion
2022: -$1.31 trillion
2023: -$1.25 trillion (estimated)
2024: -$1.12 trillion (estimated)
2025 (11 months): -$936.45 billio


U.S. trade deficit totaled $901 billion in 2025 despite Trump’s tariffs

Yeah, good luck in the campaign promising to “ slow the rate of increase” of anything.
I don’t know if you noticed that nobody promises that. There’s a reason. People want things to go down. Not up.

 

[kyzr]

Yeah, good luck in the campaign promising to “ slow the rate of increase” of anything.
I don’t know if you noticed that nobody promises that. There’s a reason. People want things to go down. Not up.

Just noticed coffee went from $13 to $9. winning.

 

[meaner gene]

Hell yes. We need every dollar of revenue we can get to lower the DEFICIT.

So what does the USSC IEEPA decision do to the deficit?