trade balance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trade balance" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing the difference between a country's exports and imports. For example, "The trade balance of the country has improved over the last year." Alternative expressions include "balance of trade" and "trade surplus/deficit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Trade balance?

The New York Times

A miserable trade balance.

The New York Times

Trade balance for August.

Independent

The trade balance improves, and output rises.

The Economist

1.    UK trade balance data is coming.

Independent

The trade balance climbed 34.7percentt.

The New York Times

What happens to the country's trade balance?

Harvard Business Review

Venezuela has maintained a positive trade balance.

Britannica

WEDNESDAY: Merchandise trade balance for February.

The New York Times

As compared to their trade balance in 1995 when they had a negative trade balance of $2.01B in net imports.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

As compared to their trade balance in 1995 when they had a positive trade balance of $2.51B in net exports.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a country's economic health, specify whether you are referring to a "trade surplus" or a "trade deficit" to provide clarity on the direction of the "trade balance".

Common error

Avoid using "trade balance" and "current account balance" interchangeably. The "trade balance" focuses solely on exports and imports of goods and services, while the current account includes other factors like investment income and transfers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trade balance" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It refers to a specific economic indicator, namely the difference between a nation's exports and imports. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a commonly used term in economic discourse.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "trade balance" is a common and grammatically sound noun phrase that describes the difference between a country's exports and imports. As shown by Ludwig, it's used extensively in news, academic, and business contexts. Related terms include "balance of trade", "net exports", and "current account balance", each with nuanced differences. When using "trade balance", it's important to avoid confusing it with the broader "current account balance" and to specify whether you are referring to a "trade surplus" or "trade deficit" for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

balance of trade

This is a direct synonym, simply reordering the words without changing the meaning.

net exports

This term focuses on the resulting figure after imports are subtracted from exports.

export-import balance

This alternative highlights the two components that determine the trade balance.

merchandise trade balance

This is a more specific term, referring only to the balance of tangible goods, excluding services.

current account balance

This is a broader measure that includes not only trade in goods and services, but also net income and current transfers.

visible balance

An older term referring to the trade in physical goods only.

international trade position

This phrase describes a country's overall status in global commerce, not just the balance.

trade surplus

This term refers specifically to a positive trade balance, where exports exceed imports.

trade deficit

This term refers specifically to a negative trade balance, where imports exceed exports.

terms of trade

This focuses on the relative price of a country's exports compared to its imports.

FAQs

What is the definition of "trade balance"?

The "trade balance" is the difference between a country's exports and imports of goods and services over a specific period.

What does it mean to have a positive "trade balance"?

A positive "trade balance", also known as a "trade surplus", indicates that a country's exports exceed its imports.

What does it mean to have a negative "trade balance"?

A negative "trade balance", also known as a "trade deficit", indicates that a country's imports exceed its exports.

How does the "trade balance" affect a country's economy?

The "trade balance" can influence a country's GDP, exchange rates, and employment levels. A persistent "trade surplus" can boost economic growth, while a persistent "trade deficit" may signal economic challenges.