trade deficit

American  

[treyd def-uh-sit] / ˈtreɪd ˌdɛf ə sɪt /

noun

Economics.

1. a negative balance of trade, or the amount by which the value of a country’s imports exceeds that of its exports.

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trade deficit Cultural  

1. The condition that exists when the value of what a country imports exceeds the value of what it exports; also called an unfavorable balance of trade.

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Trade deficits, because they imply that capital is leaving a country, can cause higher interest rates.

Etymology

Origin of trade deficit

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

The Chinese share of American imports has dropped to the lowest level since 2001, but overall U.S. trade deficit has risen.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Chinese share of American imports drops to the lowest level since 2001, but overall U.S. goods trade deficit rises.

From The Wall Street Journal

Yet the overall U.S. goods trade deficit grew 2.1% to a record $1.24 trillion because U.S. importers shifted rapidly to other markets—including Mexico, Vietnam and Taiwan.

From The Wall Street Journal

Japan faces a complex triple threat of rising crude prices, a widening trade deficit, and a shift in fiscal policy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Bureau of Economic Analysis data show that it actually ran a trade deficit of $27 billion.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• balance of trade
• bop
• trade balance