The U.S. trade deficit ballooned 14 percent to a record high of 140.5 billion U.S. dollars in March, as businesses stockpiled goods to get ahead of sweeping tariffs President Donald Trump imposed the following month.
The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced that the goods and services deficit in March went up 17.3 billion dollars from 123.2 billion dollars in February. March exports were 278.5 billion dollars, 500 million dollars more than February exports. March imports were 419.0 billion dollars, up 17.8 billion dollars from February imports.
An export slide that began in early 2025 has reached most ports across the United States, with the U.S. agricultural sector and top farm products including soybeans, corn and beef taking the hardest hit, according to trade tracker Vizion in a CNBC report.
Ports data showed the U.S. farming sector lacks the ability to move products out to global markets.
The Port of Portland, Oregon, tops the list with a 51-percent slump in exports, while the Port of Tacoma, Washington, a large agricultural export port, has seen a 28-percent decrease.
According to Ben Tracy, vice president of strategic business development at Vizion, nearly all of U.S. exports have taken a hit.
US trade deficit hits record with big plunge in farm produce exports
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
