We just got a massive dose of trade whiplash, as the U.S. trade deficit in goods and services rocketed up 95 percent in November 2025, hitting $56.8 billion. That huge spike, according to the latest data from the Commerce Department, completely undoes the previous month’s perceived progress and proves just how volatile President Trump‘s tariff strategy has made the global economy.
This kind of extreme fluctuation is brutal for businesses that are trying to plan supply chains and investment strategies. According to the New York Times report, the components of the trade deficit tell a very clear story. Exports slid 3.6 percent during November, falling to $292.1 billion. At the same time, imports surged 5 percent, climbing to $348.9 billion. When imports spike and exports drop simultaneously, you’re definitely going to see that trade gap blow wide open.
