U.S. exports fell in 2015 for first time since recession

WASHINGTON — The U.S. trade deficit rose in December as American exports fell for a third straight month, reflecting the pressures of a stronger dollar and spreading global weakness. Those factors contributed to the first annual drop in U.S. export sales since the Great Recession shrank global trade six years ago.

The December deficit increased 2.7 percent to $43.4 billion, the Commerce Department reported Friday. Exports fell by 0.3 percent, driven by sales declines of civilian aircraft, autos and farm products. Imports increased 0.3 percent as Americans bought more foreign-made cars and petroleum.

For all of 2015, the deficit rose 4.6 percent to $531.5 billion. Exports fell 4.8 percent, the first setback since 2009 when the world was in the grips of recession. Imports also retreated 3.1 percent.

American exporters have been hurt by global economic weakness and a stronger dollar, which makes their products more expensive on overseas markets.

A wider trade deficit is a drag on economic growth because it means fewer overseas sales by American producers and larger imports of foreign goods. The deficit subtracted about one-half percentage point from growth in 2015, a year when the economy, as measured by the gross domestic product, grew by a modest 2.4 percent. Analysts say trade will also subtract from growth this year as well given that the dollar has continued to rise and China, the world’s second largest economy, is still struggling to cope with slowing growth.

The U.S. deficit with China set a record in 2015, rising 6.6 percent to $365.7 billion. The deficit with the European Union also set a record, rising 7.9 percent to $153.3 billion.

The Obama administration is hoping to win congressional approval this year for a new trade agreement with 11 Asian nations but critics of the administration’s trade policies point to the rising deficits to support their arguments that past trade deals have cost American jobs.