is the u s a net exporter 
no the u s is historically a net importer and runs a standing trade deficit the data is tracked and reported on a monthly basis by the u s census bureau its report for all of 2022 indicates that the goods and services deficit increased 103 billion or 12 2 from the previous year exports increased by 453 1 billion or 17 7 while imports increased by 556 1 billion or 16 3 overall the u s trade deficit was 948 1 billion up 103 billion from 2021 overall the u s had a trade deficit of 3 7 of gdp for 2022 up slightly from 3 6 in 2021 1the bottom linethe net exports number is a component of a nation s gdp if a nation has a trade surplus it adds to the gdp if it has a trade deficit this reduces gdp this number is also referred to as the balance of trade the term can be taken literally as it suggests the health of the nation s economy as a whole the nation produces and exports the goods and services that it can supply to the world on a competitive basis it consumes some of the goods and services it produces and imports those it cannot produce some of both are critically important but the appropriate mix is harder to establish 