US trade deficit widens sharply in December, testing Trump tariff claims

In December 2025, the US trade deficit sharply increased to $70.3 billion, a 32.6% rise from November, according to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. This widening gap resulted from a decrease in exports to $287.3 billion and an increase in imports to $357.6 billion. For the full year 2025, the US goods and services trade deficit was $901.5 billion, a slight decrease of 0.2% from 2024's $903.5 billion. While the overall US trade deficit with China has decreased, China remains a major contributor to the US's bilateral goods trade deficit. The increased deficit in December reflects ongoing challenges in US trade relationships amid shifting global demand.

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