How important is trade to the U.S.? What are the facts?

To eliminate the confusion over facts and “fake news”, these statistics come directly from the CIA World Factbook. This is a free, unclassified document published by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.

It gives this information about U.S. Trade:

Imports $2.352 trillion (2017 est.) – #1 importing country in the world

-China 21.1%, Mexico 13.4%, Canada 12.7%, Japan 6%, Germany 5.2% (2016)

-agricultural products 4.9%, industrial supplies 32.9% (crude oil 8.2%), capital goods 30.4% (computers, telecommunications equipment, motor vehicle parts, office machines, electric power machinery), consumer goods 31.8% (automobiles, clothing, medicines, furniture, toys) (2008 est.)

Exports $1.576 trillion (2017 est.) – #3 exporting country in the world

-Canada 18.3%, Mexico 15.9%, China 8%, Japan 4.4% (2016)

-agricultural products (soybeans, fruit, corn) 9.2%, industrial supplies (organic chemicals) 26.8%, capital goods (transistors, aircraft, motor vehicle parts, computers, telecommunications equipment) 49.0%, consumer goods (automobiles, medicines) 15.0% (2008 est.)