The US foreign trade deficit hit another record high in March.
The Department of Commerce announced in Washington on Wednesday that the deficit had risen to $109.8 billion.
This is the highest value ever determined.
Economists had expected an average deficit of $107.1 billion.
In the previous month, the deficit was slightly revised upwards at $89.8 billion.
In view of the increased domestic demand as a result of the less tense corona situation, the USA imported more goods from abroad.
In other regions of the world, however, demand weakened.
This is dampening US exports.
Trade as a whole is likely to remain burdened by the difficult situation in China.
In view of the tough corona measures there, the activity of the Chinese ports is restricted.
The trade deficit in the USA is chronic, since more is imported than exported.
So the United States is a typical net importing country.
The deficit is financed by foreign loans.
The capital markets in the USA are attractive, partly because the United States has the world's leading currency, the dollar.