trade deficit
noun
finance
: a situation in which a country buys more from other countries than it sells to other countries : the amount of money by which a country's imports are greater than its exports
Examples of trade deficit in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The country posted a trade deficit for a fourth straight month, propelled by an increase in imports as global raw material prices spiked as a result of the conflict.
—
Nguyen Dieu Tu Uyen, Bloomberg, 3 May 2026
China-Africa trade reached a record $348 billion in 2025, though China's exports to Africa increased by around 25% to $225 billion, while its imports from Africa increased by only around 5% to $123 billion, widening the trade deficit for Africa.
—ABC News, 1 May 2026
China-Africa trade reached a record $348 billion in 2025, though China’s exports to Africa increased by around 25% to $225 billion, while its imports from Africa increased by only around 5% to $123 billion, widening the trade deficit for Africa.
—Gerald Imray, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Kirby reportedly emphasized to Trump that by attracting a larger proportion of international traffic, this super-carrier would hike American competitiveness and reduce our overall trade deficit.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trade deficit
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Nguyen Dieu Tu Uyen, Bloomberg, 3 May 2026
China-Africa trade reached a record $348 billion in 2025, though China's exports to Africa increased by around 25% to $225 billion, while its imports from Africa increased by only around 5% to $123 billion, widening the trade deficit for Africa.
—ABC News, 1 May 2026
China-Africa trade reached a record $348 billion in 2025, though China’s exports to Africa increased by around 25% to $225 billion, while its imports from Africa increased by only around 5% to $123 billion, widening the trade deficit for Africa.
—Gerald Imray, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Kirby reportedly emphasized to Trump that by attracting a larger proportion of international traffic, this super-carrier would hike American competitiveness and reduce our overall trade deficit.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trade deficit
Cite this Entry
“Trade deficit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trade%20deficit. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
