"Exports rose 6 percent last year, and imports rose nearly 5 percent. The US deficit in the trade of goods widened 2 percent to a record $1.24 trillion last year as American companies boosted imports of computer chips and other tech goods from Taiwan to support massive investments in artificial intelligence. Amid continuing tensions with Beijing, the deficit in the goods trade with China plunged nearly 32 percent to $202bn in 2025"
"But trade was diverted away from China. The goods gap with Taiwan doubled to $147bn and shot up 44 percent, to $178bn, with Vietnam. Trump last year unleashed a barrage of tariffs against trading partners with the aim, among other things, of addressing trade imbalances and protecting US industries. But the punitive duties have not yielded a manufacturing renaissance, with factory employment declining by 83,000 jobs from January 2025 through January 2026."
US trade deficit widened sharply in December and the goods shortfall reached a record $1.24 trillion in 2025 as imports rose nearly 5% while exports increased 6%. American firms increased imports of computer chips and other tech goods from Taiwan to support large investments in artificial intelligence, pushing the goods deficit higher. The goods gap with China fell about 32% to $202bn, but trade shifted to Taiwan and Vietnam, enlarging deficits there. Tariffs imposed to protect industry have not produced a manufacturing renaissance, and factory employment fell by 83,000 from January 2025 through January 2026. The monthly trade gap rose to a five-month high of $70.3bn.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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