U.S. trade deficit rising again

After dropping during mid-2025, the U.S. trade deficit reached a record-high $70.3 billion in December, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. A major reason President Trump placed so many tariffs last year was to decrease that deficit, but even with those measures in place, imports surged in November and the deficit began rising again. The Supreme Court decision striking down these particular tariffs complicates matters. Even with a bold president making a bold move to try to reduce the deficit, the U.S. remains addicted to imports.