[Brilliant]

The US has had a large trade deficit on and off for decades. It's largely the result of oil imports. It's more a problem for our trading partners than it is for us. If the dollar declines, then our exports will become cheaper to them, and their imports will become more expensive to us.

[irishjuggler]

It's largely the result of oil imports.

When oil prices are high, petroleum imports are the dominant segment of the trade deficit. In years when oil prices have been low, automobile imports have been the dominant segment.