International Trade - Surplus or Deficit - Does it matter?

Balance of Trade - Surplus (Deficit) of Exports over Imports by Year from 1980-2000

Source: World Bank

Balance of Trade - Surplus (Deficit) of Exports over Imports by Year from 2001-2018

Source: US Census Bureau

OPEN for commentary:

1981-1988: Ronald Reagan (Republican)

Total Change: +1.7%

1989-1992: George H.W. Bush (Republican)

Total Change: -0.2%

1993-2000: Bill Clinton (Democrat)

Total Change: +1.3%

2001-2008: George W. Bush (Republican)

Total Change: -1.1%

2009-2016: Barack Obama (Democrat)

Total Change: +4.1%

2017-present (2018): Donald Trump (Republican)

Total Change: +0.7%