US trade gap narrows 5.6% in June but still slightly above expectations
The country's goods and services deficit has shrunk by a third in first half-year.
In June, the US trade deficit contracted by 5.6 percent, according to government data released on August 4. The overall trade gap stood at $73.3 billion, down from the previous month's figure. This decline was driven by a steeper decrease in imports compared to exports. The numbers were slightly below market expectations, with Briefing.com projecting the deficit to be $69.6 billion.
The US trade deficit has decreased by 33.8 percent over the first six months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, largely due to an 11.7 percent rise in exports. President Donald Trump, who has been striving to reimagine the global trade system since assuming office last year, has set reducing the trade gap as a top priority.
This includes boosting exports, reviving domestic industries, and manufacturing. However, not all his trade policies have been without controversy. Some of the tariffs he imposed have been challenged in court and subsequently withdrawn. Recently, another proposed tariff faced a similar challenge in the Court of International Trade in New York.
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