U.S. trade deficit falls 5.9% in June

During the month, the United States exported $194.4 billion in goods and services, up 1.2 percent from May, as the weakened U.S. dollar makes U.S. goods less expensive, and therefore more desirable, overseas.    The U.S. trade deficit totaled $43.6 billion in June, down 5.9 percent from May as exports rose amid lower imports, the Commerce Department reported Friday.
   Economists surveyed by the Wall Street Journal expected the U.S. trade deficit in June to total $44.1 billion.
   U.S. exports in June totaled $194.4 billion, up 1.2 percent from May, and are benefitting from a weakened U.S. dollar, which makes U.S. goods less expensive, and therefore more desirable, overseas.
   Meanwhile, the nation’s imports in June stood at $238 billion, slipping 0.2 percent from May.
   Bilateral surpluses were recorded in June with Hong Kong ($2.9 billion), South and Central America ($2.6 billion), Singapore ($900 million) Brazil ($500 million) and the United Kingdom ($200 million).
   Meanwhile, deficits were recorded during the month with China ($31.3 billion), the European Union ($12.5 billion), Germany ($5.6 billion), Japan ($5.5 billion), Mexico ($5.5 billion), Italy ($2.7 billion), India ($1.9 billion), South Korea ($1.8 billion), Taiwan ($1.7 billion), France ($1.1 billion), Canada ($1 billon), OPEC ($700 million) and Saudi Arabia (less than $100 million).
   Overall, the U.S. trade deficit for the first six months of 2017 totaled $276.6 billion, up 10.7 percent from the corresponding 2016 period.