Never before has the United States imported so much food.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) outlook report, the country's agricultural trade deficit could reach a record high of $49 billion in 2025.

Mexican avocados, the largest agricultural import in the U.S., are projected to continue rising in price due to strong demand. (Source: Getty Images)

Once renowned as a global agricultural powerhouse, the United States has never imported so much food. This is a striking reversal for a nation that was once confident in its abundant food supply.

Currently, the world's largest economy is facing a persistent agricultural trade deficit. Since 2023, the country has imported more food than it exports each year.

Previously, trade deficits only occurred in 2019-2020 – the period of the US-China trade war – and a few years before 1960.

In his first month in office, President Donald Trump pledged to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada and an additional 10% tariff on goods imported from China.

The new tariff policies could make the situation even more worrying, in case other countries retaliate, increasing the cost of food imports and causing agricultural commodity prices to continue to rise.

The USDA forecasts that U.S. agricultural imports will increase by 6.5% to $219.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, with avocados, orange juice, and coffee accounting for the majority of the increase.

Conversely, Washington's agricultural exports are projected to decline by 2.2% year-on-year, to $170.5 billion.

According to the USDA, avocado imports from Mexico, the largest import item by volume, are expected to increase due to strong demand and improved growing conditions.

In addition, high prices for cocoa and sugar are further increasing the import bill of the world's number one economy.

Meanwhile, over the years, traditional American crops have gradually lost their appeal abroad. Specifically, Russia has overtaken the US to become the world's leading wheat exporter, and Brazil has surpassed Washington to become the largest exporter of corn, cotton, and soybeans.

The USDA's outlook, based on policies effective as of February 11, does not include the 70 million to 100 million eggs the nation will seek to import to address record-high prices and the worst avian flu outbreak ever.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/chua-bao-gio-nuoc-my-nhap-khau-nhieu-thuc-pham-den-vay-305931.html