WASHINGTON — U.S. imports saw a marked increase and the nation’s trade deficit remained historically large in 2025, according to data released Thursday by the Census Bureau and reported by the New York Times.
The numbers paint one of the clearest pictures yet to emerge of the ways that President Donald Trump’s tariffs have reshaped global trade flows, including a shift away from China and toward emerging economies like Mexico and Vietnam.
Overall imports of goods and services rose 4.7% last year to $4.3 trillion, while exports climbed 6.2% to $3.4 trillion. The total trade deficit narrowed slightly to $901 billion, from $903 billion in 2024.
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That modest improvement, the data shows, was driven entirely by a widening surplus in business services, an area where the United States has long excelled. The deficit in physical goods — the focus of President Trump’s tariff strategy aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing — reached a record high in 2025.
High tariffs and shifting policy timelines contributed to wide swings in trade throughout the year. Companies rushed to stockpile products ahead of new levies then pulled back sharply once duties took effect. Investors also moved heavily into foreign gold as a hedge against market volatility, adding to fluctuations in import and export figures.
While tariffs dampened purchases of some imported cars and household goods like furniture, overall trade flows remained resilient, driven by items like semiconductors and pharmaceuticals.
The trade deficit widened sharply at year’s end. In December alone, the gap jumped 32.6% as imports increased and exports declined, reflecting both shifting inventory strategies and softening overseas demand.
Tariffs significantly altered the geography of U.S. trade. The goods trade deficit with China fell to $202 billion in 2025, as companies shifted sourcing to other countries. That made the U.S. deficit with the European Union larger than its deficit with China.
At the same time, deficits with countries such as Vietnam and Mexico grew, as American importers diversified supply chains to offset tariffs on Chinese goods. Many businesses adjusted delivery schedules and supplier relationships to manage higher costs and policy uncertainty, often at considerable expense.
The data also point to ongoing transshipment and supply chain rerouting. In some cases, goods shipped to the United States from elsewhere in Asia are still produced by Chinese-owned companies. To avoid higher U.S. tariffs, many Chinese firms have established factories in third countries, allowing them to export to the American market under different country-of-origin designations.
As a result, while China’s direct trade surplus with the United States has declined, its overall trade surplus with the rest of the world has surged, reflecting a reshuffling of production and export channels rather than a wholesale reduction in Chinese manufacturing output.
