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2w ago

US Goods Deficit Falls 46% in April After Imports Plunge

Temporary tariff pauses followed by a federal appeals court’s reinstatement of duties leave businesses unsure about import planning

Shipping containers are seen at the port of Oakland, as trade tensions continued over U.S. tariffs with China, in Oakland, California, U.S., May 12, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 9, 202: Cargo is loaded onto a container ship on the right while the normally bustling berths sit empty, left, as Trump's tariff's are plunging volume as much as 35% as ships from China cancel their trips to the Port of Los Angeles on May 9, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
© Photographer: Tim Rue/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Overview

  • Goods imports plunged $68.4 billion to $276.1 billion in April, shrinking the deficit 46% to $87.6 billion.
  • Exports of goods rose $6.3 billion to $188.5 billion over the same period.
  • Economists say businesses may boost imports again before the end of 90-day tariff pauses because of unclear policy outlook.
  • Scheduled tariff rate increases have been postponed until July for most trading partners and until mid-August for Chinese goods.
  • A U.S. trade court’s block of Trump-era duties was overturned by a federal appeals court, heightening uncertainty over future trade flows.