washingtoncontinued strong consumer appetite for overseas goods pushed up the us trade deficit in december sending the fullyear importexport gap to a record level in 2021 the december deficit in trade of goods and services grew by 18 to a seasonally adjusted 807 billion the commerce department said tuesday just less than the record deficit of 808 billion in september the fullyear trade deficit for 2021 increased 27 to 8591 billion larger than the previous record of 76353 billion in 2006 annual trade balance records date back to 1960 the sharp increase in the trade deficit comes as the us economy continues to recover strongly from the pandemicinduced slump during 2020 american consumers have spent heavily on imported goods such as computers game machines and furniture flush with stimulus money while less willing to splurge on travels and dining out due to health concerns robust demand for capital goods from businesses as well as higher prices of energy and food items also have added to us import bills the international monetary fund estimates the us economy grew by 56 in 2021 faster than most advanced economies whose average growth rate was 5 in december imports rose 16 to 3089 billion growing more quickly than exports which expanded by 15 to 2281 billion the commerce department said imports were bolstered by strong consumer demand for cell phones toys and automobiles while the growth in exports were supported by pharmaceutical preparations auto and auto parts and nonmonetary gold trade deficit with china grew 145 for the full year to 3553 billion as us demand for chinese goods surged amid the postpandemic economic recovery the level was still well below the record trade deficit of 4182 billion the us set with china in 2018 a trade pact with china implemented by former president donald trump to reduce the bilateral deficit with chinese purchase commitments for us goods expired on dec 31 economists say china had fallen sharply behind the goals creating pressure for the biden administration to hold beijing accountable for falling short sarah bianchi deputy us trade representative said the us is actively engaged with china to address bilateral trade issues its really clear that the chinese have not lived up to their phase one commitment she said last week during a panel discussion referring to the bilateral agreement thats something were trying to address us officials havent said what measures they will take to respond to chinas failure to meet the purchase commitments write to yuka hayashi at yukahayashiwsjcom and anthony debarros at anthonydebarroswsjcom