US April trade gap narrows as exports rise
June 9, 2026 at 13:20 UTC
Key Points
- U.S. goods and services deficit narrowed to $55.9 billion in April 2026
- Exports climbed to a record $327.1 billion, outpacing import growth
- Goods deficit shrank while the services surplus also narrowed
- Year-to-date trade gap fell 49.1% versus the same period in 2025
April 2026 trade deficit narrows
U.S. international trade data for April 2026 showed the goods and services deficit narrowed to $55.9 billion, down $0.7 billion from March's revised $56.6 billion, according to the Commerce Department and Census Bureau. The monthly release incorporated annual revisions to the goods and services series and included revised March figures.
The April outcome meant the trade gap was nearly flat compared with March in dollar terms, but reflected a shift in the balance between exports and imports. Reuters reported that exports jumped to a record high in April 2026.
Exports hit record while imports also increase
Exports of goods and services rose to $327.1 billion in April 2026, an increase of $8.3 billion from March. Imports also grew, reaching $383.0 billion, up $7.6 billion from the prior month. Because exports increased by more than imports, the overall deficit narrowed modestly.
Within the overall figures, the goods deficit decreased by $2.4 billion to $83.7 billion in April 2026. In contrast, the services surplus declined by $1.7 billion to $27.8 billion, partially offsetting the improvement on the goods side.
Year-to-date figures show sharp deficit improvement
On a year-to-date basis through April 2026, the combined goods and services deficit decreased by $213.5 billion, or 49.1 percent, compared with the same period in 2025. Over the same interval, exports increased by $128.2 billion, or 11.3 percent, while imports decreased by $85.3 billion, or 5.5 percent.
These year-to-date changes indicate that both stronger exports and weaker imports have contributed to the substantial narrowing of the trade gap so far in 2026. The April data are part of this broader pattern of rising export values alongside restrained import demand.
Trade with China shows narrower deficit
Country-level detail for April 2026 showed the U.S. trade deficit with China narrowed by $2.6 billion to $12.0 billion. Both sides of the trade flow with China declined during the month.
Exports to China were $10.1 billion in April, down $0.2 billion from March, while imports from China were $22.1 billion, down $2.9 billion. The larger drop in imports relative to exports led to the reduced bilateral deficit with China.
Key Takeaways
- The narrowing in April’s overall deficit was driven by exports growing faster than imports, even though both increased month over month.
- Goods trade provided the main support for the smaller April deficit, while a reduced services surplus limited the overall improvement.
- Year-to-date through April 2026, the combination of higher exports and lower imports has led to a markedly smaller U.S. trade gap than a year earlier.
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