US trade deficit falls as exports hit two-year high

[WASHINGTON] The US trade deficit fell more than expected in February as exports increased to a two-year high and slowing domestic demand weighed on imports.

The Commerce Department said on Tuesday the trade gap declined 9.6 per cent to US$43.6 billion. January's trade deficit was revised slightly down to US$48.2 billion from US$48.5 billion.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the trade gap falling to US$44.8 billion in February.

When adjusted for inflation, the deficit decreased to US$59.7 billion, with exports of goods the highest on record as an earlier drag from a strong dollar fades. The real trade deficit was US$65.1 billion in January.

The dollar held modest gains versus a basket of currencies after the data, while prices for US Treasuries were little changed.

Most economists expect trade will likely be a small drag on gross domestic product in the first quarter after subtracting 1.82 percentage points from fourth-quarter growth.

In addition to trade, weak consumer spending also likely constrained the economy in the first three months of the year. The Atlanta Federal Reserve is forecasting GDP rising at a 1.2 per cent rate in the first quarter, a deceleration from the 2.1 per cent pace logged in the October-December period.

The Trump administration is eyeing trade as a vehicle to lift annual economic growth to 4 per cent and boost the manufacturing sector. President Donald Trump last Friday ordered a study into the causes of US trade deficits and a clamp-down on import duty evasion.

Mr Trump also wants to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was signed in 1994 by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

In February, exports of goods and services increased 0.2 per cent to US$192.9 billion, the highest level since December 2014. Exports were lifted by gains in the shipments of automobiles and parts, which were the highest since July 2014.

Exports of industrial supplies and materials were the highest since December 2015. There was an 8.0 per cent jump in exports to the European Union, with goods shipped to Germany surging 8.6 per cent. Exports to the United Kingdom soared 17.3 per cent and Japan also bought more goods from the United States.

However, exports to China fell 2.7 per cent and Mexico saw a 7.1 per cent drop in goods shipped from the United States.

Imports of goods and services fell 1.8 per cent to $236.4 billion amid declines in imports of cell phones and motor vehicles. Imports had risen in recent months, in part on higher oil prices. There was a drop in crude oil imports in February.

Some of the decline in imports in February likely reflects slower consumer spending. Data on Friday showed real consumer spending decreased for a second straight month in February, the first back-to-back monthly decline since April 2009.

Still, food imports hit a record high in February and imports of capital goods were the highest in nearly two years. Imports of goods from China tumbled a record US$8.6 billion to US$32.8 billion in February, a 20.8 per cent drop from January.

The nation also saw a decline in goods shipped from the European Union, Canada and Japan.

As a result, the politically sensitive U.S.-China trade deficit dropped 26.6 percent to US$23.0 billion in February. The trade deficit with Germany was the smallest since January 2013. The trade gap with Mexico jumped 46 per cent to US$5.8 billion.

REUTERS