From China to Vietnam: These are the Sources of the US Trade Deficit

Jakarta, KOMPAS.com - The United States’ trade deficit is once again under scrutiny after the latest data shows a still-significant gap between the country’s import and export values.

Amidst various tariff policies and efforts to strengthen domestic industries, the trade balance of the United States continues to record a deficit in the trillions of US dollars.

So, what exactly is a trade deficit?

In simple terms, a trade deficit occurs when a country’s import value is greater than its export value.

If a country imports goods and services worth 1 trillion US dollars but only exports 800 billion US dollars, then the difference of 200 billion US dollars is what is called a trade deficit.

In the case of the United States, this figure is much larger.

Meanwhile, when combined between goods and services, the total US trade deficit is in the range of 901.5 billion US dollars, or approximately IDR 15,148 trillion. This difference occurs because the US records a surplus in the services sector, which helps reduce some of the goods deficit.

Based on data compiled by Visual Capitalist from official US trade statistics, here are the countries with the largest goods trade deficits with the United States in 2025.

China remains the largest contributor to the deficit, although the figure is lower than the peak of several years ago. The goods that are widely imported from China include electronic products, machinery, household appliances, and various consumer goods.

The US trade deficit with Mexico reaches around 196.9 billion US dollars, or approximately IDR 3,308 trillion. Vietnam recorded a deficit with the US of around 178 billion US dollars, equivalent to approximately IDR 2,991 trillion.