美國自1980年代開始，貿易赤字逐年增加，在2000年代以後增長速度更加快速。隨著人民所得增加與產業結構的改變，國內消費的需求快速增長，儲蓄維持在低水平，而商品生產逐年下滑，無法滿足美國國內需求。在全球化的背景下，商品製造朝全球分工的的方向發展，跨國企業規模的擴張，使得美國在商品貿易的赤字逐年增加。在產業結構持續偏重於服務業的同時，使美國在商品進口的需求擴大，須透過國際貿易來滿足國內需求，美國商品進口持續擴大，產生大量商品貿易赤字。在商品需求仰賴進口下，匯率對美國貿易並無顯著性的影響。
Starting from 1980 years, US trade deficits have been increasing year by year. After year 2000, it increased even faster. As personal incomes increase and the structure of industries changes, consumer demands increase quickly. Saving has kept in low levels and the production of goods has remained low. That makes consumer demand unsatisfied. In the tide of globalization, the division of labors has been evolved globally and multinational corporations expand their offshore production. All these facts make US trade deficits increase continuously. While the service sector remains the largest part of the economy, the U.S. has increased its demand for imports to satisfy the domestic demand, resulting in a large trade deficit. Commodity demands make imports remain high, while factors such as exchange rates have no significant impact on US trade.
