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Foreign Trade in Figures

The U.S. is the world's largest importer and second-largest exporter of goods, as well as the largest importer and exporter of commercial services. Nevertheless, trade represents only 25% of the country’s GDP in 2021 (World Bank). U.S. top exports in 2021 were refined petroleum oils and gases, followed by cars, electronic integrated circuits, biological products and automotive parts and accessories. Main U.S. imports in the same year included cars, petroleum oils, automatic data processing machines, phone system devices, medicaments, and automobile parts. The U.S. signed 14 reciprocal free trade agreements, 5 preferential trade programs, 51 trade and investment framework agreements, and 48 bilateral investment treaties (LOC). In volume, exports of goods and services increased by 5.7% in 2022, and are expected to grow at a slower pace in 2023 (1.8% - IMF data). Imports’ volume increased by 9% in 2022, and is expected to contract by -1.2% in 2023 (IMF).

The country's main export partners in 2021 were Canada (17.5%), Mexico (15.8%), China (8.6%), Japan (4.3%), South Korea (3.8%), Germany (3.7%) and the United Kingdom (3.5%); whereas imports came chiefly from China (18.5%), Mexico (13.2%), Canada (12.4%), Japan (4.8%) and Germany (4.7% - data by Comtrade). Historically, the U.S. has taken the view that trade promotes economic growth, social stability, democracy and better international relations. However, in recent years the trend had reversed, with the insurgence of several trade disputes (particularly with China, accused of unfair trade practices). Trade relations between the U.S. and China finally started to normalize towards the end of Trump’s presidency, with the two countries signing the U.S.–China Phase One trade deal in Washington. Nevertheless, trade relations did not improve much during Biden’s presidency.

The U.S. trade balance is structurally negative and the trade deficit has further widened in recent years: in 2021 it stood at an estimated USD 1,181 billion (UNCTAD). In the same year, exports of goods increased to USD 1,754 billion, up by 22.6% year-on-year; with imports increasing at similar pace (+21.9% - at USD 2,935 billion) (WTO). Despite being a net importer of goods, the U.S. are a net exporter of services: in 2021, services exports totalled USD 795 billion (+16.2% y-o-y) against USD 550 billion of imports (+26.4% y-o-y, WTO). In Q2 2022, exports of goods increased USD 7.2 billion to USD 547.0 billion, reflecting increases in nonmonetary gold and in capital goods; while imports decreased USD 32.5 billion to USD 818.2 billion, reflecting widespread decreases in consumer goods and in industrial supplies and materials (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis).

 
Foreign Trade Values 20172018201920202021
Imports of Goods (million USD) 2,408,4762,614,2212,567,4452,407,5272,935,314
Exports of Goods (million USD) 1,546,2731,663,9821,643,1611,431,6101,754,300
Imports of Services (million USD) 520,424540,951567,121435,748550,025
Exports of Services (million USD) 778,361839,594853,842684,001795,273

Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Indicators 20172018201920202021
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 27.327.626.523.425.5
Trade Balance (million USD) -799,340-878,748-857,259-913,886-1,090,295
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) -510,339-578,600-559,675-653,990-845,050
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 4.54.21.1-9.014.1
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 4.32.80.5-13.26.1
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 15.015.214.613.214.6
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 12.312.411.910.210.9

Source: World Bank ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Forecasts 20222023 (e)2024 (e)2025 (e)2026 (e)
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) 7.22.50.92.42.5
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) 8.2-2.00.31.62.4

Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data

Note: (e) Estimated Data

 
International Economic Cooperation
The United States is a member of the following international economic organisations: G-7, G-10, G-20, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), WTO, IMF, OECD, ICC, among others. For the full list of economic and other international organisations in which participates the United States click here. International organisation membership of the United States is also outlined here.
Free Trade Agreements
The up-to-date list of Free Trade Agreements signed by the United States can be consulted here.
 

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2021
Canada 17.5%
Mexico 15.8%
China 8.6%
Japan 4.3%
South Korea 3.8%
See More Countries 50.1%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2021
China 18.5%
Mexico 13.2%
Canada 12.4%
Japan 4.8%
Germany 4.7%
See More Countries 46.4%

Source: Comtrade, 2022. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

Main Products

1,753.1 bn USD of products exported in 2021
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 4.8%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 4.0%
Petroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbonsPetroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons 3.9%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 3.1%
Electronic integrated circuits; parts thereofElectronic integrated circuits; parts thereof 3.0%
See More Products 81.2%
2,933.0 bn USD of products imported in 2021
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 5.1%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 4.7%
Automatic data-processing machines and units...Automatic data-processing machines and units thereof; magnetic or optical readers, machines for transcribing data onto data media in coded form and machines for processing such data, n.e.s. 4.0%
Telephone sets, incl. telephones for cellular...Telephone sets, incl. telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks; other apparatus for the transmission or reception of voice, images or other data, incl. apparatus for communication in a wired or wireless network [such as a local or wide area network]; parts thereof (excl. than transmission or reception apparatus of heading 8443, 8525, 8527 or 8528) 3.8%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) 2.9%
See More Products 79.5%

Source: Comtrade, 2022. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

To go further, check out our service Import Export Flows.

 

Main Services

840.7 bn USD of services exported in 2018
23.32%
21.05%
17.15%
13.56%
10.98%
4.83%
2.83%
2.61%
2.13%
1.19%
0.35%
552.2 bn USD of services imported in 2018
22.82%
19.56%
19.14%
8.79%
7.92%
6.64%
5.80%
4.16%
3.48%
1.13%
0.57%

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2023. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

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Actualitzacions: June 2023

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