U.S. Trade Gap Hits $56.6 Billion, Highest Level Since 2008

The U.S. trade deficit rose in January to the highest level since October 2008, defying President Donald Trump's efforts to bring more balance to America's trade with the rest of the world.The Commerce Department said Wednesday that the trade deficit rose to $56.6 billion in January, up 5 percent from $53.9 billion in December and the highest since October 2008's $60.2 billion trade gap. The trade deficit -- the gap between what America sells and what it buys abroad -- has risen for five straight months.Trump rattled financial markets last week by promising to slap big tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. He blames persistent deficits on abusive practices by U.S. trading partners and on bad trade deals that put American companies at a disadvantage or encourage them to move factories overseas.Exports fell 1.3 percent to $200.9 billion in January, and imports were flat at $257.5 billion.  Continue reading...