U.S. Trade Deficit Widens to $105.6 Billion, Largest Since Before Trump Tariffs
The U.S. trade deficit expanded significantly in August 2026, reaching $105.6 billion — the largest since March 2025 and just before former President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on trading partners. The increase was driven by a sharp rise in imports, which grew by 4.3% for the month, surpassing expectations of $102 billion according to the Dow Jones consensus. The surge is attributed partly to increased demand related to artificial intelligence infrastructure and fluctuations caused by import tariff policies. While the monthly deficit rose sharply compared to July, the year-to-date trade imbalance was down nearly 20% from a year ago at $863.7 billion.
Topics: artificial intelligence imports tariffs trade deficit