We present a plot of the United States' annual trade deficit with China from to , before shutdowns due to COVID started impacting international trade. We used a simple 12-month average seasonal adjustment. It demonstrates approximately linear growth during this time, with an R2 value of . We do see some evidence of a decreasing trend beginning in 2019. However, the bulk of the Trump administration's tariffs on Chinese imports were instituted during the spring of 2018.
Source: United States Census Bureau, Foreign Trade, Website
Use the buttons below to view data color-coded by president, or by months where the trade deficit is under/over the trendline.
| President | Months Under Trend | Total Months | Percentage Months Under Trend* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obama | |||
| Trump | |||
| * A higher percentage is better | |||