In a campaign speech in Warren, Michigan, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden falsely claimed that the United States’ trade deficit had “hit an all-time high” under President Donald Trump.
Biden’s False Statement About the Trade Deficit
Issues: trade
Biden’s Greatest Hits
A compendium of the top false and misleading claims by the Democratic presidential candidate.
An April Filled with Repeats
The president has used the coronavirus briefings to repeatedly misstate the facts about his administration’s handling of the pandemic, the economy and trade with China.
FactChecking Trump’s Scranton Town Hall
At a town hall event in the swing state of Pennsylvania, President Donald Trump made several false and misleading claims, some of which we have repeatedly debunked before.
Trump Exaggerates China Trade Impact on Farmers
At his rally in Iowa, President Donald Trump falsely claimed that the new trade agreement with China “will boost American agriculture by $50 billion every year.” China agreed to increase agricultural purchases by $12.5 billion this year and $19.5 billion next year compared with 2017 levels.
Trump Wrong on U.S. Agriculture Exports to China
In announcing “phase one” of a tentative trade deal with China, President Donald Trump wrongly stated that the “all-time high” for U.S. agricultural exports to China was “$16 or $17 billion.” Actually, it was nearly $26 billion in 2012.
Trump’s Numbers October 2019 Update
Statistical measures of how things have changed since the president took office.
Can Trump ‘Order’ U.S. Companies to Leave China?
President Trump said he “hereby ordered” U.S. companies to “immediately start looking for an alternative to China,” including moving their operations back to the United States. His top economic adviser later said “we do have such authority, but it is not going to be exercised presently.” Here we look at the 1977 law the administration cited.
Kudlow’s Unsupported USMCA Jobs Claim
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow claimed without evidence that the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement would add “180,000 new jobs per year” in the U.S.
U.S.-Japan Trade Deficit Not ‘Changing Rapidly’
In Pennsylvania, President Donald Trump falsely claimed that the trade deficit with Japan is “changing rapidly.” In fact, the U.S. deficit in goods and services with Japan is up slightly under Trump.