P. J. O'Rourke Quotes

This is what Donald Trump understands. This is the trade deficit. We run a trade deficit of close to $800 billion a year.

All those trucks and barges that carry our goods to port are vital connections to the only force which can balance our trade deficit: export. We must keep doing what we do best if we are going to get America out of the red.

The trade deficit is the capital surplus and don't ever think of having a capital surplus as being a bad thing for our country.

When a Nation exports more or less Labour, than is imported into it, that difference between Exports and Imports of Labour, is called Ballance of Trade

Wee must ever observe this rule; to sell more to strangers yearly than wee consume of theirs in value

Trade never balances. It hasn’t since 1776.

The balance of trade is an article of faith.

Historically, large-scale global trade has served two functions: 1) the exchange of goods between willing sellers and buyers described in Econ 101 textbooks; 2) as a tool of state aggrandizement, in which the private parties are stand-ins for governmental interests.

We aren't leveraging this great economic engine, the strongest economy in the world. And yet we have this totally weak response. We import $500 billion a year more in products than we export.

May our exports be so great, and our imports so small, that the balance of trade may be in our favor.

If trade deficits are good, why is China so pleased that they run a huge trade surplus? It's perfectly obvious that if China hadn't been such a huge net-exporter, it never would have grown at the rate that it did.

Having a trade deficit and a budget deficit, it's two different things.

But there still prevails, even in nations well acquainted with commerce, a strong jealousy with regard to the balance of trade, and a fear, that all their gold and silver may be leaving them. This seems to me, almost in every case, a groundless apprehension; and I should as soon dread, that all our springs and rivers should be exhausted, as that money should abandon a kingdom where there are people and industry.

Gold and silver are but merchandise, as well as cloth or linen; and that nation that buys the least, and sells the most, must always have the most money.

The United States is already Mexico's largest trading partner.

China is not looking for a trade surplus but wants to import more French goods.

India's trade deficit is because of excess of import over exports.

International trade is not a zero-sum game.

The popular notion is that imports are bad and exports are good.

We are the greatest trading country in the world because we have the greatest exportation of the growth and product of our land and of the manufacture and labor of our people; and the greatest importation and consumption of the growth, product, and manufactures of other countries from abroad, of any nation in the world.

In the long run, trade works for America.

It will be found, that as some particular Men in a Town grow richer, and thrive better than others; so also do Nations, who by Trade serving the occasions of their Neighbors, supply themselves with what they have occasion for from abroad; which done, the rest is laid up, and is Silver, Gold, etc. for as I said, these being commutable for everything, and of small bulk, are still preferr'd to be laid up, till occasion shall call them out to supply other Necessaries wanted.

The United States is the least protectionist country in the world but has the largest trade deficit, while other countries are highly protectionist and have huge trade surpluses. This cannot continue.

Trump will fail even in his proclaimed goal of reducing the trade deficit, which is determined by the disparity between domestic savings and investment.

America wins when we trade and export and import.