American trade deficit

Trade deficit is an economic term of an trade with import exceeding export.  America's trade deficit has been a key factor of the U.S. GDP.  Since GDP consists of Consumption, Investment, Government Spending, Net trade, the deficit of trade reduces the U.S. GDP and bothers government a lot.

Outsourcing could be an answer to the trade deficit.  Some many big corporation went out of America to avoid high labor fee, which contribute to the loss of potential export. 

Huge amount of demand of overseas cheap products is also important to the trade deficit.  American eat a lot.  The biggest beef consuming country.  The biggest vehicle consuming country. ... 

Since less industries had been set up within America, manufacturers faced a high unemployment rate, driving down the whole country's unemployment rate. 

Obama doesn't like deficit.  That's a loss of GDP and unemployment rate, which would make his reelection less hopeful.  So he is taking actions. 

China doesn't like Obama, however, simply because export to America takes up a big portion of China's GDP.  So they are taking actions too such as devaluing RMB, encouraging export and etc.. 

Despite of above, America is still the most productive and efficient country in the world, with the most innovative and creative stuff coming out every second.