ByTy Roush,
Forbes Staff.
The U.S. trade deficit narrowed more than expected in August, according to delayed Commerce Department data released Wednesday, as President Donald Trump’s tariffs appeared to disrupt international commerce.
The U.S. trade deficit—the value by which the cost of a country’s imports is worth more than its exports—shrank to $59.6 billion in August, the narrowest gap since October 2023 ($58.3 billion), the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Wednesday.
That marks a 24% reduction from July ($78.2 billion) as imports declined by 5.1%, the most in four months, and exports rose by just 0.1%, according to the agency.
