Statistics

U.S. has trade surplus with 115 nations, deficit with 116

November 3rd, 2006

The United States has an enormous and growing trade deficit when considered in total. On a country-by-country basis, the story is far different.

The United States has a trade surplus with 115 nations and a trade deficit with only one more, 116, according to the most recent statistics released by the U.S. government and analyzed by WorldCity.

Skewing the statistics horribly, of course, is U.S. trade with China. The United States’ $143 billion deficit with China through August is 26 percent of the U.S. total. In fact, alone it is three times as great as the total trade surpluses of those 115 nations.

Nevertheless, the U.S. registered a trade surplus of more than $1 billion through August with eight nations, more than $100 million with another 24.

The biggest trade surplus is with the Netherlands, which is due not to the nation’s voracious appetite for U.S. goods but to it being home to one of the world’s largest seaports and transshipment hubs at Rotterdam.

But the United States has a relatively significant trade surplus with a wide variety of countries, including Hong Kong and Singapore in Asia; the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Qatar in the Middle East; Panama, the Bahamas and Jamaica in the Caribbean Basin; Australia; and, joining the Netherlands in Europe, Belgium.

When viewed by Customs district, the United States has five trade surpluses. Seattle leads the way, followed by Miami, Anchorage, Alaska, and Pembina, North Dakota. The remaining 38 traditional Customs districts have deficits.

But even among those Customs district with large overall deficits, many have trade surpluses with a large number of nations. Los Angeles, for example, with the nation’s largest deficit due to its key relationship with China, has a trade surplus with 104 nations.

Number of U.S. trade surpluses at 127 nations, highest since 1998 (02/21/2008)

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U.S. has trade surplus with 115 nations, deficit with 116 (11/03/2006)

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Annual Report: No. 24 Switzerland - Swiss trade keeping time (07/26/2006)

Annual Report: No. 25 Australia- U.S. posts $8.4 billion surplus (07/26/2006)

Annual Report: No. 23 Hong Kong - U.S. expands trade surplus (07/25/2006)

Annual Report: No. 21 Israel - Glittering give-and-take (07/23/2006)

Annual Report: No. 20 India - Rising player on trade scene (07/22/2006)

Annual Report: No. 19 Thailand - Gains seen in tech products (07/21/2006)

Annual Report: No. 16 Singapore - U.S. sees growth in surplus (07/20/2006)

Annual Report: No. 18 Belgium - Diamonds, medicines lead trade (07/19/2006)

Annual Report: No. 15 Ireland - Chemicals, drugs drive exports (07/17/2006)