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U.S. Trade Deficit Jumps 13.7% to $105.6B

By Drooid · Oct 10, 2026, 12:47 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

U.S. trade deficit rose 13.7% to $105.6 billion in July-August 2026, with President Donald Trump’s tariffs still in effect.
U.S. imports hit a record $420.8 billion in August, up 4.3% from July.
U.S. exports increased 1.4% in August to $315.2 billion.
Mexico’s auto exports to the United States fell 12% in September 2026, the steepest decline since December 2025, amid 25% U.S. tariffs.

History

Historical Context

NAFTA, signed by Bill Clinton, Carlos Salinas and Jean Chrétien, took effect Jan 1 1994 and removed tariffs on over half of Mexico’s exports to the United States and a third of U.S. exports to Mexico. Trump’s administration later pushed a renegotiation that produced the USMCA, while his criticism of NAFTA marked a move away from its liberalized trade rules.

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Story summary

U.S. trade deficit rose 13.7% to $105.6 billion in July-August 2026, with President Donald Trump’s tariffs still in effect.
U.S. imports hit a record $420.8 billion in August, up 4.3% from July.
U.S. exports increased 1.4% in August to $315.2 billion.
Mexico’s auto exports to the United States fell 12% in September 2026, the steepest decline since December 2025, amid 25% U.S. tariffs.

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