New Delhi, Sept. 3 -- The United States trade deficit expanded significantly in July, reaching its highest level since March 2025 as the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure fueled a surge in imports, according to government data released on Thursday (September 3).

The deficit grew to $88.6 billion, a 24.4 percent increase from the previous month, as the trade gap in the world's largest economy faced pressure from declining exports and rising import costs.

The Department of Commerce reported that total exports dipped 2.1 percent to $310.7 billion, largely due to a downturn in shipments of crude oil and gold. Conversely, total imports rose 2.8 percent to $399.3 billion. This increase was driven primarily by strong de...