President Donald Trump's mission to close the U.S. trade deficit met a greater challenge as America's trade deficit in goods soared to a record $1.2 trillion in 2024.

Data released Wednesday morning by the Commerce Department showed that U.S. imports of goods and services grew 6.6 percent to a record $4.1 trillion, as Americans bought large amounts of auto parts, weight-loss drugs, computers and food from other countries.

The high figures could attract renewed scrutiny under the new US administration, with Trump already threatening tariffs on major US partners over trade imbalances and other issues

The U.S. trade deficit widened sharply in December as imports surged to a record high against the backdrop of tariff threats, which might have prompted businesses to rush purchases of foreign-made goods like finished metals and computers.

The U.S. trade deficit widened sharply in December as imports surged to a record high against the backdrop of tariff threats.

The U.S. trade deficit surged in December as imports hit a record high, driven by businesses rushing to secure foreign-made goods ahead of potential tariffs. The deficit jumped 24.7% to $98.4 billion,