WASHINGTON, Sept 5 — The US trade deficit narrowed slightly in July, but the gap with China, a focus of the Trump administration’s “America First” agenda, surged to a six-month high.
The report from the Commerce Department yesterday came against the backdrop of an escalation in the trade war between the United States and China. The two economic giants slapped fresh tariffs on each other on Sunday, fanning fears of a global recession. President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned he would be “tougher” on Beijing in a second term if trade talks dragged on.
“Investors and the markets are unlikely to see any reprieve in the trade sanctions and tariffs and the Trump administration may even redouble their efforts to tame the massive red ink,” said Chris Rupkey, chief economist at MUFG in New York. “It doesn’t look like America is winning the trade war.”
The trade deficit dropped 2.7 per cent to US$54.0 billion (RM226.4 billion) as exports rebounded and imports fell. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the trade gap narrowing to US$53.5 billion in July. The monthly trade gap has swelled from US$46.4 billion at the start of 2017, when Trump took over from former president Barack Obama.
The politically sensitive goods trade deficit with China increased 9.4 per cent to US$32.8 billion on an unadjusted basis, the highest since January, with imports jumping 6.4 per cent. Exports to China fell 3.3 per cent in July. Smoothing out seasonal fluctuations, the shortfall with China dropped 1.7 per cent in July as both imports and exports dropped.
US exports to China have declined 18.2 per cent in the first seven months of this year and imports are down 12.3 per cent, pointing to a restriction of trade flows between the two nations.
The trade deficit with the European Union raced to a record high in July, with the shortfall with Germany the largest since August 2015. This could draw more criticism from Trump, who last week complained “the euro is dropping against the dollar ‘like crazy,’ giving them a big export and manufacturing advantage.”
Washington on Sunday imposed 15 per cent tariffs on more than US$125 billion in Chinese imports, including smart speakers, Bluetooth headphones and clothing. In retaliation, China slapped additional duties on some of the US goods on a US$75 billion target list, including a 5 per cent tariff on crude oil. Additional tariffs are due in December.
The trade tensions have rattled financial markets and triggered a global manufacturing recession. The trade-driven downturn in manufacturing is threatening the longest US economic expansion in history.
A separate report from the Federal Reserve yesterday described the economy as having expanded at a “modest” pace through the end of August amid concerns over tariffs and trade policy uncertainty.
The dollar fell against a basket of currencies, while US Treasury prices rose. Stocks on Wall Street were trading higher after upbeat data from China’s services sector.
Exports rebound
In July, goods exports increased 0.9 per cent to US$138.2 billion. But with China imposing additional tariffs on US soybeans, beef and pork, exports are likely to decline in the months ahead. China’s commerce ministry said in early August that Chinese companies had stopped buying US farm products.
A survey of manufacturers on Tuesday showed a measure of export orders received by factories plummeted in August to the lowest level since April 2009.
In July, exports were boosted by consumer goods, which increased US$1.5 billion. Capital goods exports rose US$0.8 billion. There were also increases in exports of motor vehicles. Exports of industrial supplies and materials, however, decreased US$1.7 billion, with shipments of crude oil falling US$0.5 billion.
“A soft export and capital spending environment, in large part resulting from trade policy turmoil, are likely important factors contributing to the weakness in manufacturing,” said John Ryding, chief economist at RDQ Economics in New York.
Goods imports dropped 0.2 per cent to US$211.8 billion. Economists believe imports rebounded in August as businesses probably stocked up on Chinese goods following the announcement of further tariffs.
The US-China trade tensions have caused wild swings in the trade deficit, with exporters and importers trying to stay ahead of the tariff fight between the two economic giants.
The import bill was pulled down by a US$1.5 billion decline in capital goods imports, to the lowest level since October 2017. The drop in capital goods imports suggests business investment could remain weak in the third quarter after contracting in the April-June period for the first time in three years.
But imports of industrial supplies and materials rose US$0.9 billion, with petroleum products imports increasing US$1.0 billion. Imports from the European Union were the highest on record in July.
When adjusted for inflation, the goods trade deficit fell US$0.7 billion to US$85.5 billion in July. The so-called real trade deficit is slightly above the second-quarter average, suggesting trade could again weigh on gross domestic product this quarter.
Trade subtracted 0.72 percentage point from GDP in the second quarter. The economy grew at a 2.0 per cent annualized rate in the last quarter, slowing from the first quarter’s brisk 3.1 per cent rate. The Atlanta Federal Reserve is forecasting the economy growing at a 1.5 per cent pace in the third quarter.
“The weakening in export orders in the manufacturing ISM report for August raises the likelihood that the data for the quarter as a whole will be weaker,” said Jim O’Sullivan, chief US economist at High Frequency Economics in White Plains, New York.
In July, the services surplus decreased US$0.1 billion to US$19.7 billion, the lowest level since February 2016, as imports of services hit a record high. — Reuters
