US foreign trade deficit in June increased by 7.2%

The deficit in the foreign trade balance of the USA in June 2018 increased by 7.2% to $ 46.3 billion from the revised $ 43.2 billion in May, as shows the report of the Ministry of Trade of the country released on Friday. Analysts expected an increase of 7.9% on average – from previously announced $ 43.1 billion to $ 46.5 billion.

The negative balance of US foreign trade without taking into account price fluctuations (this indicator is used to calculate GDP) increased to $ 79.3 billion, compared with $ 75.5 billion in May.

Import of goods and services in the US in June rose by 0.6% to $ 260.2 billion, mainly due to active purchases of oil and medicines.

Purchases of foreign oil in June increased by 2%, gasoline – decreased by 1.8%.

The volume of exports decreased by 0.7% from May to $ 213.8 billion. In particular, exports of consumer goods fell by 8.1%, shipments of cars and spare parts decreased by 5.2%.

The expert of soybeans rose to $ 4.2 billion from $ 4.1 billion in May, in annual terms, growth was 40%.

Deliveries of gasoline from the USA abroad increased in June to a record $ 19.9 billion. At the same time, the import of this fuel also increased and amounted to the maximum since November of $ 32.4 billion.

The trade deficit with China slightly changed the year before, to $ 32.5 billion against $ 32 billion in May. The negative balance of trade with Mexico rose to $ 6.7 billion, the balance deficit with the EU rose to $ 12.8 billion.

The growth of the US foreign trade balance deficit was fixed against the background of the escalation of the trade conflict with China.

Earlier this week, US authorities signaled the possibility of imposing higher duties on Chinese goods worth $ 200 billion – at a rate of 25% instead of the previously planned 10%.

China, in turn, on Friday published a plan to respond to US trade threats, announcing the introduction of duties with differentiated rates for goods from the US worth about $ 60 billion a year.