What is a Trade Deficit?
A trade deficit occurs when a country imports more goods and services than it exports, creating a negative trade balance. In contrast, exporting more than is imported results in a trade surplus. Learn more about how global tariffs impact trade here .

What do trade deficits have to do with tariffs?
Often a government who imposes tariffs on imported goods will cite trade deficit as one of the reasons for doing so. It could be that the government sees a large and long-standing deficit with a particular trade partner as evidence that their trade relationship is unfair, or at least imbalanced. It could be that the trade deficit prompts a government to impose tariffs in order to protect domestic industriesโalthough some domestic businesses may actually depend on imported parts or goods, and so they too can end up being financially impacted by the tariffs.
How do trade deficits impact global businesses?
Trade deficits can have a generally positive impact on importers, as they indicate demand for imported goods and services in that country. However, as we mentioned above, trade deficits can prompt governments to impose tariffs in order to boost domestic industriesโand this can lead to an increase in costs for exporters, importers, the end consumer, or a combination of them all.โฏ
Weโll be following the global trade news closely, so look out for more articles explaining some of the key terms in the story.
Related resources
Latest articles
-
How to hire employees in Ireland
Looking to hire employees in Ireland for your US company? Learn about employment in Ireland and how Payoneer Workforce Management makes it easy to hire in Ireland.
-
Planning to hire employees in Indonesia? Hereโs a quick guide
Are you looking to hire employees in Indonesia? Learn about hiring in Indonesia and how Payoneer Workforce Management can help American companies hiring in Indonesia.
-
Planning to hire employees in France? Hereโs a quick guide
Looking to hire employees in France for your U.S. company? Learn about employment in France and how Payoneer Workforce Management makes it simple to hire in France.
-
Planning to hire employees in Spain? Hereโs a quick guide
Are you looking to hire employees in Spain? Learn about employment in Spain and how Payoneer Workforce Management can help American companies hiring in Spain.
-
How to hire employees in the Netherlands
Looking to hire employees in the Netherlands for your U.S. company? Learn about employment in the Netherlands and how Payoneer Workforce Management can help hire in the Netherlands.
-
How to hire employees in Australia
Looking to hire employees in Australia for your US company? Learn about employment in Australia and how Payoneer Workforce Management makes it easy to hire in Australia.
Disclaimer
The information in this article/on this page is intended for marketing and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, tax, or professional advice in any context. Payoneer and Payoneer Workforce Management are not liable for the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the information provided herein. Any opinions expressed are those of the individual author and may not reflect the views of Payoneer or Payoneer Workforce Management. All representations and warranties regarding the information presented are disclaimed. The information in this article/on this page reflects the details available at the time of publication. For the most up-to-date information, please consult a Payoneer and/or Payoneer Workforce Management representative or account executive.
Availability of cards and other products is subject to customerโs eligibility. Not all products are available in all jurisdictions in the same manner. Nothing herein should be understood as solicitation outside the jurisdiction where Payoneer Inc. or its affiliates is licensed to engage in payment services, unless permitted by applicable laws. Depending on or your eligibility, you may be offered the Corporate Purchasing Mastercard, issued by First Century Bank, N.A., under a license by Mastercardยฎ and provided to you by Payoneer Inc., or the Payoneer Business Premium Debit Mastercardยฎ, issued and provided from Ireland by Payoneer Europe Limited under a license by Mastercardยฎ.
Skuad Pte Limited (a Payoneer group company) and its affiliates & subsidiaries provide EoR, AoR, and contractor management services.












