President Donald Trump’s broad tariffs weighed on U.S. trade in August 2025, with imports of goods and services falling 5.1% from the same month in 2024 to $340.4 billion after duties on exports from about 90 economies took effect on Aug. 7.
According to new data released on November 19 by the US Department of Commerce, US exports barely increased in August 2025, inching up 0.1% to $280.8 billion. Due to a sharp drop in imports, the trade deficit in goods and services for the month also narrowed by nearly 24%, to $59.6 billion compared to July 2025. The August 2025 import-export data - delayed by more than a month due to the US government shutdown - provides the first picture of trade flows after Mr. Trump imposed a new trading system on the US.
The US president announced the double-digit tariffs globally in April 2025, on what he called “Liberation Day,” arguing that the old system was “disadvantaging” the US in terms of jobs and finances. While the tariffs were briefly in effect, they were largely suspended for four months as the administration sought to negotiate with trading partners.
Tariffs were reimposed on August 7, at 15% on goods from Bolivia, Ecuador, and Nigeria; 20% on goods from Taiwan (China); and 50% on exports from Brazil. Together, these tariffs pushed the effective US tariff rate to more than 18%, the highest since 1934.
Both U.S. imports and exports rose in July 2025 as businesses dependent on international trade tried to complete shipments before tariffs took effect. Trade fell again in August as U.S. businesses imported fewer items such as industrial raw materials, food and beverages, and machinery.
Many of the tariffs President Trump has imposed, including those announced in early August 2025, could be reassessed in a case before the Supreme Court. The court is considering whether Mr. Trump exceeded his legal authority in imposing the tariffs, and could limit or strike them down in the coming weeks or months.
Still, the US president has other legal powers at his disposal, and is likely to announce new measures to replace at least some of the tariffs.
Source: https://vtv.vn/tham-hut-thuong-mai-cua-my-giam-sau-100251120164020196.htm
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