Posted by aburke on 04/12/2011

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The monthly U.S. international trade deficit in goods and services was $45.8 billion in February.  The goods trade deficit with China was $18.8 billion.

--Year over year, the 2011 trade deficit is running far higher than 2010.  January-February 2010 clocked in at $74.3 billion, while the first two months of 2011 have already reached $92.7 billion.
--Year over year, the goods trade deficit with China is also running ahead of 2010.  January-February 2010 totaled $34.8 billion, while the first two months of 2011 have already reached $42.1 billion.
--Of particular note is that China ($18.8 billion) now accounts for 70% of our overall monthly non-oil goods deficit ($27.0 billion).

Said Scott Paul, Executive Director of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM):
“Washington has focused a lot on budget deficits this year, but scant attention has been paid to the trade deficit. That must change. The trade deficit serves as a drag on GDP growth and requires financing, just like any other debt.  While only 9.5% of our national debt is financed by China, that nation is responsible for more than 75% of our trade deficit in non-oil goods.”