Jan - US trade deficit sinks as tariffs take a bite.

Jan - October Trade Deficit Declines on Higher Exports, Lower Imports

Nov - US trade deficit widens by the most in nearly 34 years in November

Looking at what you’re cutting, you might also be living healthier too!

Although these food products are often regionalized.

None of these products would be made in the US, though ... and none would affect trade imbalance ... so the net effect might only be to increase inefficiency in your own country

Just as economically illiterate as the Trump admin, just in the opposite direction!

OK so you import less American stuff. While still wanting to export the stuff you made to America.

So now you're tied up to Trump even more than before. Because you either traded your goods for US investments, or just pieces of paper that only continue to be worth something insofar as the US doesn't bungle their economic and geopolitical policies. Because those are the primary alternatives to settling the trade by getting goods/services back.

Why wouldn't you want to cash out and actually get stuff back from the US for the stuff you make for them, if you think the US is headed south? It's not like you're exporting to the US as a charity.

> as a non-USian

Should it be considered trolling at this point to use the wrong demonym and cause little flame wars? I'm playing into it right now I guess.

while that is true, there is more to it than that. It distorts US finances and debt market. It is helpful to the US, until at some point it will cause major problems, it's just hard to say exactly when.

Generally I'd rather be in a trade surplus; I would want my country to sell more things than it buys. Energy, technology, machinery, services, whatever it is, if I'm selling, it means I have productive capability/advantage over others and thus more independence.