
This release contains sensitive economic data not to be released before
8:30 a.m. Friday,
May 19, 2000     

CB-00-83 Press Copy 
FT-900 (00-03)

For information on goods contact:
Bureau of the Census:
Haydn R. Mearkle (301) 457-2246 
Nick Orsini (301) 457-2311

For information on services contact:
Bureau of Economic Analysis:
Technical: Christopher Bach (202) 606-9545
Media: Larry Moran          (202) 606-2649


          U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES
                            March 2000

Goods and Services

The Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the
Department of Commerce, announced today that total March exports of $87.3
billion and imports of $117.4 billion resulted in a goods and services
deficit of $30.2 billion, $1.5 billion more than the deficit of $28.7
billion in February, revised.  March exports were $2.4 billion more than
February exports of $84.8 billion.  March imports were $3.9 billion more
than February imports of $113.6 billion.  

In March, the goods deficit increased $1.7 billion from February to $37.0
billion, and the services surplus increased $0.2 billion to $6.9 billion.
Exports of goods increased to $62.7 billion from $60.8 billion, and imports
of goods increased to $99.7 billion from $96.2 billion.  Exports of services
increased to $24.6 billion from $24.0 billion, and imports of services
increased to $17.7 billion from $17.3 billion.

Goods
     
The February to March change in exports of goods reflected increases in
industrial supplies and materials of $1.0 billion (the largest were fuel oil
and other industrial supplies); capital goods ($0.6 billion); automotive
vehicles, parts, and engines ($0.3 billion); and foods, feeds, and beverages
($0.1 billion).  A decrease occurred in other goods ($0.7 billion).  Consumer
goods were virtually unchanged.
 
The February to March change in imports of goods reflected increases in
consumer goods of $1.2 billion (primarily pharmaceutical  preparations and
apparel); automotive vehicles, parts, and engines ($1.0 billion); industrial
supplies and materials ($0.8 billion); capital goods ($0.5 billion); and
foods, feeds, and beverages ($0.2 billion).  Other goods were virtually
unchanged.

Note:  Total goods are reported on a balance of payments basis; commodity
and country detail for goods are on a Census basis.  Definitions are
explained in the notes starting on page 26 of this release.

Services
     
Services exports increased $0.6 billion from February to March.  The increase
was mostly attributable to other private services, as stepped-up activity in
U.S. financial markets increased commission receipts from nonresidents, and
travel, which reflected an increase in the number of foreign visitors to the
United States.  Changes in the other categories of services exports were small.
Services imports increased $0.4 billion from February to March.  The increase
was mostly attributable to travel, reflecting an increase in the number of U.S.
travelers abroad, other transportation, and passenger fares.  Changes in the
other categories of services imports were small. 

Goods and Services Moving Average 

For the three months ending in March, exports of goods and services averaged
$85.5 billion, while imports of goods and services averaged $114.3 billion,
resulting in an average trade deficit of $28.8 billion.  For the three months
ending in February, the average trade deficit was $26.9 billion, reflecting
average exports of $84.9 billion and average imports of $111.8 billion.

Selected Not Seasonally Adjusted Goods Details 

The March figures showed surpluses, in billions of dollars, with Australia
$0.6 (for February $0.6), Hong Kong $0.5 ($0.2), Singapore $0.2 (-$0.2),
Argentina $0.2 ($0.1), Egypt $0.1 ($0.4), and Brazil  $0.1 ($0.0).  Deficits
were recorded, in  billions  of dollars, with Japan -$6.8  (-$6.7), Western
Europe -$5.9  (-$3.5),  China  -$5.1  (-$5.6),  OPEC -$4.2  (-$3.2),  Canada
-$3.9 (-$3.1), Mexico -$1.9  (-$2.0), Taiwan  -$1.2 (-$1.3), and Korea -$0.7
(-$0.7).

Advanced technology products (ATP) exports were $18.7 billion in March and
imports were $17.6 billion, resulting in a surplus of $1.2 billion.  March
exports were $2.4 billion more than the $16.4 billion in February, while
imports were $2.1 billion more than the $15.5 billion in February.

Revisions
     
Goods carry-over in March was $1.3 billion (1.9 percent) for exports and $1.0
billion (1.0 percent) for imports.  For February, revised export carry-over
was $0.4 billion (0.7 percent), revised down from $1.2 billion (2.0 percent).
For February, revised import carry-over was $0.3 billion (0.3 percent),
revised down from $1.2 billion (1.3 percent).

Services exports for February were virtually unrevised at $24.0 billion.
Services imports for February were revised slightly upward to $17.3 billion. 



                            *NOTICE*

Beginning with the April 2000 statistical data, which will be released on
June 20, 2000, the Bureau of the Census will begin publishing Exhibits 10
and 11 of the FT-900, using 1996 as the base year for the constant dollar
series.  Historical data for 1996 through 1998, with 1996 as the base year,
will be available upon request.  Contact the Data Dissemination Branch at
(301) 457-2311 or visit the Foreign Trade Division's website at:
www.census.gov/foreign-trade.


Seasonally Adjusted

Exhibit 1  International Trade in Goods and Services. . . . . . .........4

Exhibit 2  Goods and Services Centered Three - Month Moving Averages.....5

Exhibit 3  U.S. Services by Major Category--Exports . . . . . ...........6

Exhibit 4  U.S. Services by Major Category--Imports . . . . . ...........7

Exhibit 5  U.S. Trade in Goods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...........8

Exhibit 6  Exports and Imports of Goods by Principal End-Use Category....9

Exhibit 7  Exports of Goods by End-Use Category and Commodity ..........10

Exhibit 8  Imports of Goods by End-Use Category and Commodity ..........12

Exhibit 9  Petroleum and Non-Petroleum End-Use Category Totals......... 14       

Exhibit 10 Exports and Imports of Goods by Principal End-Use
           Category (Constant Dollars) . . . . . . .....................15

Exhibit 11 Exports, Imports, and Balance of Goods, Petroleum and Non-
           Petroleum End-Use Commodity Category Totals
           (Constant Dollars)...........................................16

Not Seasonally Adjusted

Exhibit 12 U.S. Trade in Goods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............17

Exhibit 13 Exports and Imports of Goods by Principal End-Use Category...18

Exhibit 14 Exports, Imports, and Balance of Goods by Selected  
           Countries and Areas   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........19

Exhibit 15 Exports and Imports of Goods by Principal SITC Commodity
           Groupings....................................................21

Exhibit 16 Exports, Imports, and Balance of Advanced Technology
           Products.....................................................23

Exhibit 17 Imports of Energy - Related Petroleum Products, 
           Including Crude Petroleum . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........24

Exhibit 18 Exports and Imports of Motor Vehicles and Parts By Selected
           Countries....................................................25

Information on Goods and Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........26

SOURCE: Report FT900 (CB-00-83), Bureau of the Census, Foreign Trade
        Division, March 2000.  For more information, contact Haydn R. 
        Mearkle (301-457-2246) or Nick Orsini (301-457-2311), Foreign 
        Trade Division.           
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