The monthly U.S. trade deficit in goods and services jumped 18.7 percent in May a month after an unprecedented drop attributed in large part to uncertainties regarding U.S. tariff policy. The individual deficit with China fell by double digits for the second straight month to the lowest in more than five years, but shortfalls with Vietnam, Taiwan, and Thailand hit all-time highs.
Imports of $350.5 billion in May were largely unchanged from April. Imports of goods were down slightly to $277.7 billion, with increases of $4.4 billion for computers, $3.1 billion for passenger cars, and $2.5 billion for pharmaceutical preparations along with decreases of $2.8 billion for computer accessories, $1.7 billion for finished metal shapes, and $800 million for other textile, apparel, and household goods. Services imports slipped 0.1 percent to $72.8 billion.
Exports fell 4.0 percent in May to $279.0 billion after a record-setting April. Exports of goods were down 5.9 percent to $180.2 billion, with increases of $1.1 billion for pharmaceutical preparations and $800 million for computer accessories along with decreases of $5.5 billion for non-monetary gold, $1.1 billion for natural gas, and $1.0 billion for finished metal shapes. Services exports slipped 0.2 percent to $98.8 billion.
The monthly U.S. trade deficit increased from $60.3 billion in April to $71.5 billion in May. The deficit in goods trade gained 12.7 percent to $97.5 billion while the services trade surplus lost 0.4 percent to $26.0 billion.
For the year to date the U.S. trade deficit was up 50.4 percent from the same period in 2024 as imports rose 14.8 percent and exports gained 5.5 percent.
For the month of May 2025, trade deficits and surpluses with major trading partners were as follows.
|
Country/region
|
Deficit
|
% Change
|
Surplus
|
% Change
|
|
European Union
|
$22.5 billion
|
+25.7
|
|
|
|
Mexico
|
$17.1 billion
|
+26.7
|
|
|
|
Vietnam
|
$14.9 billion
|
+2.8
|
|
|
|
China
|
$14.0 billion
|
-28.9
|
|
|
|
Ireland
|
$11.8 billion
|
+24.2
|
|
|
|
Taiwan
|
$11.5 billion
|
+18.6
|
|
|
|
Germany
|
$6.8 billion
|
+25.9
|
|
|
|
Japan
|
$5.8 billion
|
0
|
|
|
|
South Korea
|
$5.4 billion
|
+63.6
|
|
|
|
India
|
$5.1 billion
|
-3.8
|
|
|
|
Canada
|
$2.8 billion
|
+7.7
|
|
|
|
Italy
|
$2.6 billion
|
-18.8
|
|
|
|
Malaysia
|
$2.4 billion
|
+4.3
|
|
|
|
France
|
$0.5 billion
|
-73.7
|
|
|
|
Netherlands
|
|
|
$4.8 billion
|
0
|
|
Hong Kong
|
|
|
$3.6 billion
|
-47.8
|
|
Switzerland
|
|
|
$3.3 billion
|
-5.7
|
|
South/Central America
|
|
|
$3.3 billion
|
0
|
|
United Kingdom
|
|
|
$3.0 billion
|
-30.2
|
|
Australia
|
|
|
$1.5 billion
|
+7.1
|
|
Brazil
|
|
|
$0.5 billion
|
-50
|
|
Saudi Arabia
|
|
|
$0.5 billion
|
-44.4
|
|
Belgium
|
|
|
$0.5 billion
|
-55.5
|
|
Singapore
|
|
|
$0.3 billion
|
-66.7
|
|
Israel
|
|
|
$0.1 billion
|
Shift from $0.9 billion deficit
|
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