**US Imports Plummet in April Amid Trump’s Tariff Wave**

Imports into the United States saw a dramatic decline in April, plummeting by 20% as a wave of tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump took effect. This significant drop, the largest ever recorded in a single month, highlights the abrupt impact on trade after many firms had rushed to import products earlier in the year to avoid new tariffs that Trump had pledged to impose.

Major trade partners such as Canada and China felt the brunt of the new tariffs, with US purchases from these nations falling to their lowest levels since 2021 and 2020, respectively, according to the Commerce Department. This sharp reduction contributed to a near-halving of the US trade deficit in goods, marking a record decline.

Oxford Economics noted that while the April trade report clearly indicates the impact of tariffs, the data should be viewed with caution due to the early-year surge in import activities. Since re-entering office in January, Trump has raised import taxes on specific items like foreign steel, aluminum, and cars, and levied a general 10% tariff on most imports from global trading partners. Although some higher duties were temporarily suspended for 90 days to allow for negotiations, these measures significantly raised the US’s average effective tariff rate to its highest since the 1930s.

In response to these tariffs, US trade with countries such as Mexico and Canada has dramatically altered. Mexico’s steel industry reported that exports to the US were halved last month, and Canada experienced an all-time high trade deficit in April as its exports to the US declined for a third consecutive month. According to the Commerce Department report, almost all product categories saw decreases in imports, with notable drops in passenger cars, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods such as cell phones, furniture, and apparel.

Despite the decline in April, overall US goods imports in the first four months of the year have increased by about 20% compared to the same period in 2024, while exports are up by approximately 5%. The total goods and services trade deficit for April stood at $61.6 billion, down from $138.3 billion in March.

As Trump continues to push his tariff agenda, the UK has been spared the latest round of duties, with the import tax for US firms buying from the UK remaining at 25%. However, should the UK fail to finalize a deal with the US by July 9, its steel tariffs will revert to 50%.

Trump’s aggressive tariff strategy underscores his broader political vision, but it has raised concerns among economists about the potential for a global trade war. The President's comments on Friday accusing China of "totally violating its agreement with us" have only heightened these fears.