Comments on: U.S. Trade Deficit Down; Exports Up http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/2009/12/11/u-s-trade-deficit-down-exports-up/ Citizen Economists is an online economics magazine written by citizen journalists. These ordinary citizens provide reports and commentary on the current events affecting the economics of the fields they work in. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:44:52 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Pete Murphy http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/2009/12/11/u-s-trade-deficit-down-exports-up/comment-page-1/#comment-25927 Pete Murphy Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:17:17 +0000 http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/?p=2535#comment-25927 For a different "take" and more detailed analysis of the October trade deficit report, see http://petemurphy.wordpress.com/2009/12/10/october-trade-headlines-look-good-details-not-so-much/ The biggest factor in the drop in October was an unusually large drop in oil imports, likely to be reversed in the future. As far as the rest of the report, the rise in exports was offset by a rise in imports. Pete Murphy Author, "Five Short Blasts" For a different “take” and more detailed analysis of the October trade deficit report, see http://petemurphy.wordpress.com/2009/12/10/october-trade-headlines-look-good-details-not-so-much/

The biggest factor in the drop in October was an unusually large drop in oil imports, likely to be reversed in the future. As far as the rest of the report, the rise in exports was offset by a rise in imports.

Pete Murphy
Author, “Five Short Blasts”

]]> By: Emmanuel Tabones http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/2009/12/11/u-s-trade-deficit-down-exports-up/comment-page-1/#comment-25859 Emmanuel Tabones Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:54:08 +0000 http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/?p=2535#comment-25859 I have been observing and analyzing American trade policy since the 1980s and there have been periods when the trade deficit goes up and it goes down. However, there is no reason to believe that the amount will go down significantly because most of the overall deficit involves countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia. Much of our imports consists of items that cannot be produced as cheaply in the United States, raw materials that this country needs, and energy products such as oil. I do not foresee a time when these countries will ever import products from the United States at a dollar amount comparable to their exports to this country, nor do I see other countries importing much more, as well. The trade deficit may have improved, but I think it would be a mistake to assume this as part of a general trend, downward. I have been observing and analyzing American trade policy since the 1980s and there have been periods when the trade deficit goes up and it goes down. However, there is no reason to believe that the amount will go down significantly because most of the overall deficit involves countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia. Much of our imports consists of items that cannot be produced as cheaply in the United States, raw materials that this country needs, and energy products such as oil. I do not foresee a time when these countries will ever import products from the United States at a dollar amount comparable to their exports to this country, nor do I see other countries importing much more, as well. The trade deficit may have improved, but I think it would be a mistake to assume this as part of a general trend, downward.

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