Preview

Trade Deficit of the Us and the Undervaluation of the Rmb

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
3511 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Trade Deficit of the Us and the Undervaluation of the Rmb
The causes of the large trade deficit of the US

The undervaluation of the RMB

The causes of the large trade deficit of the US
A trade deficit is when a country imports more than it exports. As a matter of fact, in 2012, the US trade is preoccupied by a deficit reaching 539.514 billion. According to Robert E. Scott, the Director of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Research at the Economic Policy Institute in the US, there are three main factors that explain this phenomenon. He confirms that “China accounted for three-fourths of rise in non-oil goods trade deficit” found in Economic Indicators, category Trade and Globalization.
The three factors, Robert E.Scott is talking about are:
- The increase in net imports of crude oil and refined petroleum products.
- The growth in deficit in non-oil goods, dominated by trade in manufactured products.
- The China’s illegal manipulation of its currency.

Why are the causes quoted in the article relevant?
a. The trade deficit is driven by the petroleum imports:
As a matter of fact, America is dependent on foreign oil, which leads to the trade deficit. In 2010, the imported petroleum-related products, such as crude oil, natural gas, fuel oil, were $252 billion. In spite of high oil prices that constantly increased, this import raised to $313 billion in 2012. This increase is considered responsible for two-thirds of the growth of the trade deficit in goods. As a consequence, the recovery was slowed down while domestic job creation was suppressed. Moreover, the exporters, especially in China, and in oil-exporting nations, took up the domestic demand for goods.

b. Consumer products are large contributors to the trade deficit:
In 2012, the US imported $516 billion of these products, such as clothing, consumer electronics, furniture, household goods, and drugs. At the same time, it only exported $181 billion, which results to $335 billion deficit in consumer products. Furthermore, the US deficit reached $152

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the U.S. current account, most of the trade deficit results from an excess of imported…

    • 415 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    ¹The exports for the United States totaled $397 billion and their imports were $438 billion in 2009. The U.S. trade deficit with Canada and Mexico was $41 billion in 2009. In 2010, U.S. exports were $412 billion, and imports were $506 billion. The U.S. trade deficit with Canada and Mexico was $95 billion. Canada and Mexico became the second and third largest suppliers of imports of goods to the U.S. in 2010 with Canada having $276.5 billion and Mexico with $229.7 billion.…

    • 2468 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    “A surplus in the trade balance means that exports exceed imports—we’re producing more than we’re consuming”. (Colander, 2010, p. 505)A trade surplus is a positive balance of trade where a country’s exports exceed its imports. There is a net flow of domestic currency from foreign markets representing a net outflow. “A deficit in the trade balance (the difference between imports and exports) means that, as a country, we’re consuming more than we’re producing. Imports exceed exports, so we’re consuming more than we could if we didn’t run a deficit.” (Colander, 2010, p.505) A trade deficit is a negative balance of trade where a country’s imports exceed its exports representing an outflow of domestic currency to foreign markets meaning that large amounts of the U.S. dollar are being held by foreign nations, value of the dollar declines, and imports become more costly to purchase.…

    • 314 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Oil production in the United States satisfies only half of the country's needs; the rest is imported. If imports were cut off, what changes would you expect to occur in your lifestyle?…

    • 836 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    When there is a surplus of imported goods in the United States, it causes the price or that product to fall. According to “Amadeo” (2013), “Automotive is a category where the United States ran a trade deficit in 2012. It imported $298 billion worth of cars, trucks and auto parts, while only exporting $146 billion, running a deficit of $152 billion” (Consumer Products and Autos Contribute to the Deficit). A company that has a high amount of surplus means the company is making money allowing it to invest the surplus in new services, employees and other needs the company have (Hamel, 2013). A surplus can cause businesses to increase prices causing consumers with a less surplus to not buy its products. Surplus can cause businesses to increase or decrease product prices that affect consumers’ ability to make a…

    • 1353 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    In the United States, the Census Bureau says, “The Nations international trade deficit in goods and services decreased to $38.8 billion in March from $ 43.6 billion (revised) in February, as imports decreased more than exports” (United States Census Bureau, 2013). An example of a surplus of import of the U.S. is electrical machinery. Which by itself, is the largest import category between the U.S and China. According to the office of the United States Trade Representative, 411 billion in 2011, a 9.4 % increase ($34.4 billion) from 2010, and up 299% since 2000” (Office of the United States Trade Representative, 2012). Through…

    • 1262 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Thanks to modern technology and scientific progress, which is easy to take advantage of unconventional oil, America now has become a major exporter of petroleum products in the world they are issued naphtha, diesel and gasoline for Latin America, Europe and Asia. The outcome of currently imported oil dropped dramatically exceeded all expectations.…

    • 113 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Week 5 Indv Paper ECO/372

    • 956 Words
    • 4 Pages

    When the dollar value of goods and services imported into the United States exceeds the dollar value of goods and services exported to other countries from the U.S., it creates what is called a surplus. When there is a surplus of imports that are brought into the United States, a deficit is created from the trade balance that occurs. Having a surplus of desired imports can create a lower price for the U.S. consumer and have a positive effect on the employment rate within the country where the goods were imported from. This has an effect due to the fact it will keep their citizens working.…

    • 956 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Oil is a prime example of a product that America imports in surplus. In August of 2011 The Wall Street Journal accurately predicted the United States would experience an oil surplus (Herron, J., 2011). This prediction was accurate because the United States continued to import at the same levels it domestically produced. Because The United States has experienced this surplus it has since began to decrease the amounts of both imported and domestically produced oil. It is easy to assume that since America has a surplus in oil consumers would reap the benefits of lower prices. Unfortunately every time that an individual fills up a vehicle at the gas station they are reminded that this is not an accurate assumption. While the cost of fuel is more complex than the above description the underlining point is that a surplus of an import can cause American businesses and domestic consumers to suffer…

    • 940 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The impact of international trade on the United States economy is quite significant. While historically the United States had been a nation that provided credit to other countries, it is now in a decline. This decline has caused the United States to become a major debtor, owing millions of dollars in interest to other countries. This is a result of an excess of importing, which has resulted in a surplus of imported goods. This surplus can be necessary to help offset the current deficits, but may stunt the economic growth of the United States.…

    • 904 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The United States is a fossil fuel hungry nation whose economy, markets, and transportation is highly dependent on the abundance of crude oil and petroleum. Although there is roughly 85.9 billion barrels of undiscovered technically recoverable crude oil currently in the form of oil shale located beneath our soil, we still rely on imports from foreign countries. With a crude oil and petroleum product net import of 7,270 thousand barrels per day the United States is one of the top importers of foreign oil (Petroleum & Other Liquids, 2013). According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, EIA, the United States receives its leading imports of oil from Canada at a rate of 2,815 thousand barrels per day, Saudi…

    • 2767 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The balance of payments problem is the trade deficit caused by the U.S. importing more than it exports, especially from China, draining money and goods from its economy. China has the greatest trade surplus in the world while the USA has the largest trade deficit in the world.…

    • 418 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Minimum Wage Increase

    • 1574 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Also known as a trade deficit since our imports are greater than our exports. We exported 2.23 trillion and imported 2.76 trillion. People are blaming imports for their lost of jobs. It is cheaper to produce other materials in other countries because they have more access to other natural resources than we do. If we exported more, the country would have more money. When there is more money, there is a chance people will get off poverty since more jobs will be created instead of raising the minimum wage.…

    • 1574 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Globalization of production resulting from low labor costs in China and other emerging markets have led US firms to move production overseas. Dependence on foreign oil is also a major factor. From 1992-2008, US imports increased 394% from $537B to $2,117B. Whereas, US exports increased by 290% (see Exhibit 1). Increased consumer spending on imports was supported by a housing boom fueled by tax cuts, low interest rates, and rising household debt.…

    • 833 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Addicted to Oil

    • 1208 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The United States’ increasing dependence on oil is a growing problem. Oil demand is increasing at an outstanding rate, not only in the U.S. but also around the world. Consider this, in 2008, “the world produced about 85 million barrels of oil a day, but global demand topped 86 million barrels a day” (Pickens). Just 4 years later the oil consumption rate has increased to 90 million barrels a day (IEA). A major portion of this increase can be attributed to high oil consumption rates in China and India, which now are importing more oil. The graph below from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) illustrates how significantly China’s dependence on world oil has increased over the past 15 years. It isn’t just competition for oil with other countries that is contributing to the problem though. Our usage of oil has to be looked at; especially our vehicles which consume an ever increasing amount of oil. According to the EIA, gas mileage of all types of U.S. made vehicles has leveled off since 1985. While foreign car companies have continued to make more fuel efficient vehicles, U.S. automakers have failed to keep up with innovations to make their vehicles increasingly more energy efficient. Based on the fact that each year more people are driving and people are commuting longer distances, oil consumption will continue to go up.…

    • 1208 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays