Trade surplus and deficit explained
A country has a trade surplus when it exports more than it imports. Conversely, a country has a trade deficit when it imports more than it exports. A country can have an overall trade deficit or surplus, or simply have either with a specific country. Either situation presents problems at high levels over long periods Trade Deficits, Explained. "This is just a measure of imports versus exports," Schlesinger says. "So, let's look at 2017. The U.S. imported $2.9 trillion worth of goods and services. It exported $2.3 trillion or so. It amounted to a trade deficit of $566 billion in goods and services.".