re: October trade data in: biggest monthly trade deficit in over 10 years

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lack the intellectual honesty

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Pot meet kettle.

The fact that you and 90proof claim superior intellectual understanding on all things trade yet continue to hammer "trade, tariffs, Trump" as the talking point driving the trade deficit is the definition of intellectual ignorance.

The direction of the trade deficit is not surprising; the fact that tariffs aren't causing the trade deficit to reverse is not surprising.

Why? Because, and I know this is going to be difficult for you to comprehend, trade is not the only factor in the trade deficit.

The trade deficit is influenced by many other factors, including the value of the dollar, the net inflow of foreign investment, total domestic savings, and the federal budget deficit, to name the obvious suspects.

The federal government imposed new tariffs, which would have pushed down the trade deficit and the dollar. But other factors exerted upward pressure on the currency. A trade war and deteriorating prospects for the world economy made the American economy relatively more attractive (the dollar is considered a refuge value).

The increasing federal deficit attracted more savings to America. On balance, the dollar increased, pushing imports up (in conjunction with the brisk pace of the American economy), exports down (in conjunction with foreign retaliation), and the trade deficit up.

Tariffs don’t determine the trade deficit

/Thread

Please feel free to copy and paste this anytime you see 90proof post anything about this but we can all just assume they lack not only the intellectual ability to understand what I wrote but the educational background to understand it as well. My explanation is not perfect but it is brief, simple and concise and I assure you it is accurate and shows 90proof is a know nothing no talent arse clown out of his depths.