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trade deficit UK US noun [C, usually singular] (also trade gap) ECONOMICS, COMMERCE, FINANCE
► a situation in which the value of goods that a country imports is more than the value of goods it exports, or the size of this difference: trade deficit in sth »
America's trade deficit in goods and services increased.
have/run/post a trade deficit »Brazil has run a $14 billion trade deficit with the US.
reduce/shrink/cut the trade deficit »These export subsidies certainly don't reduce the trade deficit.
»an annual/monthly trade deficit
»a ballooning/huge/record trade deficit
»a goods/merchandise trade deficit
Financial and business terms. 2012.