The trade deficit between the United States and Mexico has experienced consistent growth in recent years, increasing from 77.712 billion in 2018 to 110.964 billion by the end of the president's first term in 2020, which represents a 128 percent increase since 2017. Despite this deficit, Mexico remains the United States' top trading partner, contributing 15.6 percent of total U.S. imports in 2024, followed by China and Canada. The investigation led by President Donald Trump aims to thoroughly understand the economic mechanisms and details behind the trade deficit with Mexico, going beyond simple figures to analyze how these trade exchanges may influence the strategic and national security of the United States. The goal is to identify potential economic risks or vulnerabilities that could affect the country's interests. The comprehensive review of trade deficits, requested by Trump, particularly focuses on the economic relationship with Mexico. On his first day in office, he directed the Department of Commerce to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the structural causes of persistent trade deficits, establishing a deadline to receive recommendations. According to current data from the U.S. Census Bureau as of November 2024, the trade deficit in goods of the United States with Mexico accounted for 14.50 percent of the total, reaching 157.20 billion dollars. This deficit, while significant, remains lower than the deficit with China, which stood at 270.42 billion dollars, representing 24.94 percent of the total. In 2017, during Trump’s first year in office, the trade deficit with Mexico was 69.057 billion dollars.
