How is this information organized?

Coverage of the individual merchandise sectors includes data—for 2018 through 2022—showing U.S. export, import, and trade balance shifts by sector, industry digest, and shifts in trade with U.S. trade partners.

What trade statistics are used?

Trade statistics are compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce). These statistics are categorized using the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedules (for imports) and Schedule B (for exports) using an international nomenclature system.

Why are your data different from other trade data?

Although all import and export data presented in these tables and figures are official Commerce statistics, these data may differ from the data presented by other government agencies and private institutions that cite Commerce as the source for trade data. Possible reasons for these differences are as follows:

  • Data in these tables and figures include merchandise trade only; other reported data may include services.
  • Data are not seasonally adjusted; the values of other reported data may be so adjusted.
  • Data are not adjusted on a balance of payments (BOP) basis; the values of other reported data may be so adjusted in line with the concepts and definitions used to prepare national and international accounts.
  • Data in these tables and figures may be adjusted for errors that are not of sufficient magnitude to be changed in Commerce data.
  • The import and export data in these tables and figures for 2018-2022 have been updated as of February 7, 2023, based on the latest official revisions from the Census Bureau. The merchandise sectors contained in these tables and figures are defined by the Commission and may differ from similarly labeled groups from other sources.

The Commission’s staff has prepared “A Note on U.S. Trade Statistics“ that is intended to help the public understand the most widely cited figures on the U.S. merchandise trade balance. It begins by defining the underlying trade flows and proceeds to a discussion of the resulting trade balances.

What are the sectors?

These tables and figures cover 10 merchandise sectors that are major segments of the U.S. economy: Agricultural Products; Chemicals & Related Products; Electronic Products; Energy-related Products; Footwear; Forest Products; Machinery; Minerals and Metals; Textiles and Apparel; and Transportation Equipment.

What are special-provision exports and imports?

These are merchandise subject to special classification provisions, temporary legislation, temporary modifications proclaimed under trade agreements legislation, or other legislation. See chapters 98 and 99 of the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (https://hts.usitc.gov/current) and chapter 98 of U.S. Schedule B (https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/schedules/b/) for more information.

Which HTS 8-digit subheadings are included in each product grouping? [PDF]

How are trading partner/regional groups defined? [PDF]

What do the trade abbreviations and acronyms mean? [PDF]