U.S. trade deficit inches up in September

The U.S. trade deficit totaled $43.5 billion for September, a 1.7 percent increase from August, as rising exports were offset by an even higher increase in imports.    The U.S. trade deficit ticked up another 1.7 percent between August and September to $43.5 billion as rising exports were offset by an even higher increase in imports.
   During the month, U.S. exports stood at $196.8 billion, inching up 1.1 percent from August, while the nation’s imports totaled $240.3 billion, rising 1.2 percent, according to data released by the U.S. Commerce Department.
   The September figures show goods surpluses with Hong Kong ($2.7 billion), South and Central America ($2.2 billion), Brazil ($800 million), United Kingdom ($700 million), Singapore ($700 million), OPEC ($600 million), Saudi Arabia ($600 million) and Canada ($100 million). However, goods deficits were recorded with China ($29.9 billion), the European Union ($14.6 billion), Germany ($5.9 billion), Japan ($5.9 billion), Mexico ($5.1 billion), Italy ($2.9 billion), South Korea ($2.4 billion), India ($2.3 billion), Taiwan ($1.5 billion) and France ($1.2 billion).
   For the first nine months of 2017, the U.S. trade deficit totaled $405.2 billion, a 9.3 percent increase from the same timeframe in 2016, despite continued promises by President Donald Trump to reduce or eliminate the deficit in trade in goods and services entirely.