Why Trade Deficits Are Not Necessarily a Bad Thing May 23, 2018 by Gary Halbert of Halbert Wealth Management 1. Why Trade Deficits Are Not Always a Bad Thing 2. Trade Deficits Are Common Among Developed Nations 3. Why the US Dollar is Rising & Can It Continue? Overview Today, I want to disagree with a widely-held view by the mainstream media and President Trump that trade deficits are always a bad thing. I also want to disagree with the idea that trade deficits with the US mean that our trading partners are taking advantage of us. The fact is, most high-consuming developed nations run trade deficits with other countries. The US has the highest trade deficit in the world, and this has been true every year for decades. There are specific reasons for this, as I will explain below, and it s not necessarily a bad thing. In some ways, it s a good thing. Following that discussion, we ll take a look at why the US dollar has been rising of late, despite the widespread consensus that the greenback will continue to move lower and lower. Markets often don t conform to the consensus view, and the latest rally in the dollar is one such example. Why Trade Deficits Are Not Always a Bad Thing The Trump administration and officials from Canada and Mexico continue meetings to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). There is much about the trade agreement that should be modernized, such as updated rules for e-commerce and stronger intellectual property protections. The president also hopes to maintain existing duty-free market access for agricultural goods, as it is important for industries in many states, including my home state of Texas. However, the administration has also emphasized its desire to reduce the trade deficits the degree to which the United States imports more than it exports in the NAFTA negotiations. This is rooted in the belief that when the United States buys more from foreign countries than they buy from us, jobs Page 1, 2018 Advisor Perspectives, Inc. All rights reserved.
increase in those countries and decrease here at home. This is a faulty assumption but one that has unfortunately found its way into modern political dialogue and the mainstream media. Yet trade deficits are not always bad for US workers and consumers, and they should not remain the focus in NAFTA renegotiations. Here s why. For starters, a powerful economy such as ours often runs a trade deficit because of the immense buying power of its people. Mexico s average net per-capita income is roughly $13,000 per family, while the average US household brings in more than $59,000 each year, according to the Census Bureau. Thus, Americans have a far greater capacity to buy goods than do consumers in Mexico and Canada. It should come as no surprise that we do exactly that. In 2017, our trade deficit with Mexico was apprx. $71 billion, according to the Census Bureau (see chart below). Our trade deficit with Canada was $17.5 billion last year. If the United States and Mexico were the only countries in the world, and both countries traded openly with each other, American consumers would still benefit from Mexican imports in order to satisfy our buying power and immense market demand. Conversely, Mexico would still import goods from the United States. Its citizens, however, simply cannot afford to buy things at the same rate and quantity that Americans do from Mexico. The same is true with Canada. If Mexicans suddenly became wealthier, they would likely start buying more US products. That is why one of the best things that can happen to our economy is for other nations economies to grow. When they grow, they buy more American products, and we grow even more. Trade Deficits Are Common Among Developed Nations The fact is that trade deficits are common for many countries with relatively high-consumption populations. Here are the countries that we run the largest trade deficits with. Page 2, 2018 Advisor Perspectives, Inc. All rights reserved.
As the United States purchases more goods from Mexico, Mexican workers become wealthier, which means they will be able to purchase more goods from the United States. A growing economy in Mexico also means that Mexican workers have less reason to immigrate illegally to the United States. And while US consumers and businesses are buying more cheap goods from Mexico, it gives us greater purchasing power to buy more things and reinvest in our own economy, thus lifting our standard of living. Simply put, free and fair trade is a win-win scenario. Foreign investment also tilts the trade-balance calculation. Because we have the world s largest economy and the strongest currency, more money comes into the United States than goes out. This investment surplus adds to our trade deficit, even though this foreign cash stimulus is a positive for our economy. When a Canadian company decides to invest in a US-based company, that also increases our trade deficit. Similarly, when the Mexican government buys US Treasury bonds (as most of the world does), the likelihood of an American trade deficit increases. Yet investments such as these are indicative of a strong economy. It should be an encouraging sign that we are by far the world s largest receiver of foreign direct investment. Our trade deficit means, in part, that US companies are considered to be a better investment than companies in other countries. More investment in American businesses means more jobs and higher wages for American workers. It is my hope that as the Trump administration continues reviewing past and future trade agreements, we can work together toward building a better future for the American middle class. We have real problems with trade, such as closed markets, foreign subsidies and stolen intellectual property. But setting up additional barriers and taxes on imports to reduce the trade deficit should not be the Page 3, 2018 Advisor Perspectives, Inc. All rights reserved.
focus of our trade policy. The United States already benefits from trade and, when there is free and open competition, American workers and consumers always win. It is also my hope that President Trump comes to understand that trade deficits are not always a bad thing and should not be the driver of the NAFTA renegotiations. Why the US Dollar is Rising & Can It Continue? Despite a strong consensus that the US dollar will continue to move lower this year, the greenback has rallied strongly in recent weeks. While it s still too early to say the downtrend is over, investors and currency traders are wondering if something significant has changed. The latest strength in the dollar is likely the result of several factors. First, US interest rates have risen this year and remain well above rates in Europe and Japan. This has resulted in more international capital flowing into the US dollar. Second, the Fed appears firm in its plans to increase short-term rates at least two more times this year and continue to reduce its massive balance sheet at an increasing rate this year and next and possibly beyond. There is increasing speculation that the FOMC could raise the Fed Funds rate three more times this year, especially if the economy reaches 3% growth in the current quarter. Higher rates are good for the dollar. Third, data on US dollar futures markets around the world show there is a very large speculative short position in the dollar. This is not surprising given the global consensus that the US dollar would move lower this year and perhaps beyond. So, it s no surprise that speculators would have large short dollar positions. As the dollar has strengthened recently, some of these shorts have elected to cover their positions. To exit a short position means you have to buy the dollar to liquidate the trade. This buying helps push the greenback higher and could result in a lot more short-covering which has the potential to push the dollar even higher still. Page 4, 2018 Advisor Perspectives, Inc. All rights reserved.
As I said at the beginning of this section, it is too early to conclude that the downtrend in the US dollar has reversed. Yet for the reasons cited above, the current rally in the dollar could continue. And if the holders of the shorts decide to exit their positions in a big way, the rally could be a lot larger than most traders currently expect. Stay tuned. All the best, Gary D. Halbert Forecasts & Trends E-Letter is published by Halbert Wealth Management, Inc. Gary D. Halbert is the president and CEO of Halbert Wealth Management, Inc. and is the editor of this publication. Information contained herein is taken from sources believed to be reliable but cannot be guaranteed as to its accuracy. Opinions and recommendations herein generally reflect the judgement of Gary D. Halbert (or another named author) and may change at any time without written notice. Market opinions contained herein are intended as general observations and are not intended as specific investment advice. Readers are urged to check with their investment counselors before making any investment decisions. This electronic newsletter does not constitute an offer of sale of any securities. Gary D. Halbert, Halbert Wealth Management, Inc., and its affiliated companies, its officers, directors and/or employees may or may not have investments in markets or programs mentioned herein. Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results. Reprinting for family or friends is allowed with proper credit. However, republishing (written or electronically) in its entirety or through the use of extensive quotes is prohibited without prior written consent. Halbert Wealth Management Page 5, 2018 Advisor Perspectives, Inc. All rights reserved.