The US trade deficit experienced a significant expansion in July, according to government data released on Thursday. The increase was largely attributed to a surge in imports, which analysts believe was driven by businesses attempting to stock up before the implementation of additional tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.

The overall US trade deficit grew by 32.5 percent to $78.3 billion in July, as reported by the Department of Commerce. This increase was primarily fueled by a 5.9 percent rise in imports, which reached $358.8 billion, while exports only edged up by 0.3 percent to $280.5 billion. The reported deficit exceeded the Briefing.com consensus forecast of $64.2 billion.

Analysts at Pantheon Macroeconomics suggest that the growing trade gap is connected to “pre-tariff stockpiling,” as companies sought to import goods before the introduction of higher tariffs. In April, President Trump imposed a 10 percent tariff on almost all US trading partners, but twice postponed plans to increase these duties to varying higher levels for dozens of economies. The steeper levels, affecting key partners such as the European Union, Japan, and India, ultimately took effect in early August.

As a result, businesses that boosted imports to avoid tariff hikes are now depleting their existing inventory, which will likely lead to new purchases at higher costs. The Commerce Department report indicated that imports of industrial supplies and consumer goods both increased significantly. Furthermore, the US goods deficit with China widened by $5.3 billion to $14.7 billion in July.

The expansion of the US trade deficit highlights the ongoing impact of trade tensions on the country’s economy. As businesses continue to navigate the changing trade landscape, the effects of these tariffs will be closely monitored. The increase in imports and subsequent depletion of inventory may lead to higher costs for businesses, which could potentially be passed on to consumers. The situation will likely continue to evolve, with further developments in trade policy expected to influence the US trade deficit in the coming months.