The U.S. international trade deficit increased in 2015 according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau. The deficit increased from $508.3 billion in 2014 to $531.5 billion in 2015, as exports decreased more than imports. As a percentage of U.S. gross domestic product, the goods and services deficit was 3.0 percent in 2015, up from 2.9 percent in 2014. The goods deficit increased from $741.5 billion in 2014 to $758.9 billion in 2015, and the services surplus decreased from $233.1 billion in 2014 to $227.4 billion in 2015.
Exports
Exports of goods and services decreased $112.9 billion, or 4.8 percent, in 2015 to $2,230.3 billion. Exports of goods decreased $118.8 billion and exports of services increased $5.9 billion.
- The largest decreases in exports of goods were in industrial supplies and materials ($76.9 billion), in foods, feeds, and beverages ($16.0 billion), and in capital goods ($12.7 billion).
- The largest increases in exports of services were in other business services ($9.3 billion), which includes research and development services; professional and management services; and technical, trade-related, and other services, in telecommunications, computer, and information services ($2.0 billion), and in financial services ($1.7 billion).
Imports
Imports of goods and services decreased $89.7 billion, or 3.1 percent, in 2015 to $2,761.8 billion. Imports of goods decreased $101.3 billion and imports of services increased $11.6 billion.
- The largest decrease in imports of goods was in industrial supplies and materials ($180.8 billion).
- The largest increases in imports of services were in travel (for all purposes including education) ($9.7 billion), in other business services ($5.2 billion), and in transport ($3.1 billion), which includes freight and port services and passenger fares.
Goods by geographic area (Census basis)
- The deficit with China increased from $343.1 billion in 2014 to $365.7 billion in 2015. Exports decreased $7.5 billion to $116.2 billion and imports increased $15.1 billion to $481.9 billion.
- The deficit with the European Union increased from $142.1 billion in 2014 to $153.3 billion in 2015. Exports decreased $3.5 billion to $272.7 billion and imports increased $7.8 billion to $426.0 billion.
- The balance with members of OPEC shifted from a deficit of $50.0 billion in 2014 to a surplus of $6.6 billion in 2015. Exports decreased $9.6 billion to $72.8 billion and imports decreased $66.2 billion to $66.2 billion.
For more information, read the full report.