washingtonthe us trade deficit narrowed in april as imports fell sharply reflecting a moderating appetite for foreign goods and materials from american consumers and businesses the trade gap in goods and services fell to 191 in april from the prior month to a seasonally adjusted 871 billion the commerce department said tuesday retreating from a record 1077 billion deficit the prior month imports fell 34 to 3397 billion the first monthonmonth decline since july last year driven by a drop in clothing household goods toys pharmaceutical products and finished metal exports continued their upward trend in recent months rising 35 to 2526 billion economists polled by the wall street journal had estimated a trade deficit of 894 billion for april