Rubber product trade deficit declines 3% in '08

摘要

WASHINGTON-The U.S. rubber product trade deficit decreased for the first time in seven years in 2008, as exports grew more than imports in some of the largest rubber categories.The deficit for the year was $7.63 billion, down 3 percent from 2007, according to U.S. Commerce Department data. Exports for the period rose 8.8 percent to $7.67 billion and imports 2.6 percent to $15.3 billion. The rubber product deficit had increased every year since 2001.