US trade deficit widens, Spring Gala performances, Merz visit

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Raymond MaFebruary 20, 2026 at 10:00 AM

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In December 2025, the US trade deficit significantly widened, increasing 32.6% from November to US$70.3 billion, according to the US Commerce Department. This contributed to a total annual deficit of US$901.5 billion, a slight decrease of 0.2% from the previous year. Despite widespread tariffs, the annual goods trade deficit reached a record US$1.24 trillion, a 2.1% increase year-on-year. Notably, the goods trade deficit with China fell to a 21-year low during this period. These figures reflect the difference between US exports and imports of goods and services.