U.S. Trade in Distribution Services: 2010–14

• U.S. exports increased by 3.4 percent annually to $46.5 billion in 2014
• U.S. imports increased by 3.8 percent annually to $59.3 billion in 2014

The United States has consistently reported a trade deficit in distribution services. The deficit widened from $10.5 billion in 2010 to $12.8 billion in 2014; it largely reflects two factors—the U.S. deficit in manufactured goods trade and the way in which U.S. imports of freight transportation services are measured. During 2010–14, U.S. exports of distribution services increased by $5.8 billion, while U.S. imports increased by $8.1 billion. The European Union (EU), Japan, and Canada represent both the largest export markets for U.S. distribution services and the largest suppliers of U.S. imports. A large component of distribution services—wholesale and retail services—is supplied through affiliate transactions and is not included in these figures. For more information on U.S. trade in services, see chapter 1 of Recent Trends in U.S. Services Trade: 2016 Annual Report.