To address your question about how much more the United States imports than exports with major countries in terms of trade, I’ll provide an overview based on available data for 2024 and early 2025 trends, focusing on the goods and services trade balance with key trading partners. The trade balance is calculated as exports minus imports, so a negative balance (deficit) indicates that imports exceed exports, and the amount of the deficit shows how much more is imported than exported.

For 2024, the U.S. goods and services trade deficit was reported at $918.1 billion, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) data released on February 5, 2025. This figure reflects a significant increase from 2023, when the deficit was $773.4 billion, driven by a 6.6% rise in imports to $4.1 trillion, while exports grew more modestly by 3.9% to $3.2 trillion. Below, I’ll break this down for some of the United States’ major trading partners based on available data and trends up to early 2025.

Major Countries and Trade Balances

1. China
2. In 2024, the U.S. goods trade deficit with China was approximately $295.4 billion. Goods exports to China were $143.5 billion, while imports were $438.9 billion. This means the U.S. imported $295.4 billion more in goods than it exported to China. Services trade data is less detailed annually by country, but the U.S. typically runs a small services surplus with China (e.g., $42.2 billion in exports vs. smaller imports in 2022), which slightly offsets the goods deficit. However, the overall trade deficit with China remains heavily skewed toward imports.
3. Mexico
4. The goods trade deficit with Mexico in 2024 was around $173 billion, with exports at $324.3 billion and imports at $497.3 billion (based on Census Bureau and BEA estimates). This indicates the U.S. imported $173 billion more in goods than it exported. Including services, the U.S. had a total trade surplus with Mexico of $162 billion in 2023 (exports of $367 billion vs. imports of $530 billion), but 2024 data suggests the goods deficit grew, and services data is not yet fully detailed. Assuming a similar services surplus, the net deficit is still significant in goods, with imports exceeding exports by roughly $173 billion.
5. Canada
6. For 2024, the goods trade deficit with Canada was approximately $63 billion, with exports at $356.5 billion and imports at $419.5 billion. This shows the U.S. imported $63 billion more in goods than it exported. The total trade balance (goods and services) with Canada in 2023 was a deficit of $41 billion, and with energy excluded, a surplus of $63 billion was noted. For 2024, the goods deficit likely dominates, with imports outpacing exports by $63 billion, moderated slightly by a services surplus (e.g., $69.5 billion in exports in 2022).
7. European Union (EU)
8. The goods trade deficit with the EU in 2024 was approximately $234 billion, derived from posts on X and consistent with BEA trends. Goods exports to the EU27 were $350.8 billion, while imports were around $584.8 billion. This means the U.S. imported $234 billion more in goods than it exported to the EU. The services surplus with the EU was $238.6 billion in exports in 2022, but specific 2024 data is unavailable; assuming a similar surplus (e.g., $24.3 billion in February 2025), the overall deficit is reduced but still reflects higher imports, likely exceeding exports by over $200 billion.
9. Japan
10. The goods trade deficit with Japan in 2023 was $71.2 billion, with vehicles and industrial supplies as key imports. For 2024, exports were $80.2 billion, and assuming a similar deficit trend, imports were around $151.4 billion, meaning imports exceeded exports by about $71 billion. Services data is less prominent, but the goods deficit drives the imbalance.

Summary of Import Excess

• China: $295.4 billion more imported than exported (goods-focused).
• Mexico: $173 billion more imported than exported (goods).
• Canada: $63 billion more imported than exported (goods).
• EU: $234 billion more imported than exported (goods).
• Japan: ~$71 billion more imported than exported (goods).

Tony Gutierrez

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