Mind the Trade Gap

Is having a trade deficit necessarily a bad thing? Many experts argue that the U.S. trade deficit is largely good for our economy. It allows Americans to enjoy a wider variety of cheap goods, attracts foreign investment, and reflects the strength of the U.S. dollar. Others believe it’s a warning sign that we’re relying too much on imports, hurting American jobs, and racking up debt owed to other countries.

This season, Why It Matters is taking you through the ins and outs of trade. In this episode, we unpack the trade deficit. What is it and why has it become a primary focus of the second Trump administration?

This episode was originally released by Why It Matters on June 3, 2025.

Find us

Mind the Trade Gap - https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/mind-trade-gap
Why It Matters - https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/why-it-matters
Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/39tmKmi
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3ACtkTq
Google Podcasts - https://bit.ly/2W5Ef94

Host

Gabrielle Sierra
Podcast Host and Director of Podcasting

Episode Guests

Brad W. Setser
Whitney Shepardson Senior Fellow, CFR

Heather Hurlburt
Associate Fellow for the U.S. and the Americas Programme, Chatham House

Related Episodes

Trade Agreements: Deal or No Deal - https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/trade-agreements-deal-or-no-deal

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Видео Mind the Trade Gap канала Council on Foreign Relations