US trade deficit narrows to $ 49.4 billion in February

REPORT – In this photo of March 6, 2019, container ships moored at the port of Oakland await landing in Oakland, California. On Wednesday, April 17, the Commerce Department reports on the trade gap between the United States and February. (AP Photo / Ben Margot, File)

WASHINGTON – The US trade deficit declined for the second consecutive month in February and the politically sensitive deficit of trade in goods with China declined.

According to the Commerce Department, the gap between goods and services sold by the United States and those they buy from the rest of the world fell 3.4% in February to $ 49.4 billion, the lowest level since June. Exports rose 1.1% to $ 209.7 billion. Imports rose 0.2% to $ 259.1 billion.

The goods deficit with China fell by 28.2% to $ 24.8 billion. Exports to China increased 18.2% to $ 8.4 billion. Imports from China decreased 20.2% to $ 33.2 billion.

President Donald Trump has imposed a $ 250 billion tariff on Chinese imports as part of a dispute over US allegations that China steals technology and forces foreign companies to disclose trade secrets.