US Goods Trade Deficit Falls 46 Percent in April as Imports Decline

Early forecasts signal a spike in second-quarter GDP growth.

A container ship is seen docked at the Port of Oakland, in Oakland, Calif., on April 18, 2025. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The U.S. goods trade deficit declined sharply in April from a record in March as the effects of front-running President Donald Trump’s tariffs faded.

According to an advance estimate from the Census Bureau, the goods trade gap plummeted 46 percent, to $87.6 billion, from the all-time high of $162.25 billion registered in March. This represented the smallest trade deficit for goods since December 2023.