Within the current timeframe it's mostly due to Clinton's overly strong dollar. But the economy can take decades to reach equilibrium, and it's still recovering from the Bretton Woods era (early 1940's to early 1970's) when the dollar and imports and exports were artificially held flat. People put too much emphasis on imports and exports. A far better focus is on GDP and productivity growth.
Don't you think it's past time for blaming Clinton for all our economic problems?
Wrong.
A far better focus is on employing Americans in productive, family-sustaining jobs.
One of the key elements in this article is the concept that we are in a battle of 'competing interests,' not of 'harmonies' from efficiency.
That is, it's war.
We heard that first from PJBuchanan, back in the late 1980's, BTW.