Imports are a strong segment of the U.S. economy, according to U.S. Census figures. In 2017, total U.S. trade with foreign countries was $5.2 trillion — $2.3 trillion in exports and $2.9 trillion in imports. The United States was the world's third-largest exporter, after China and the European Union and the second-largest importer after the EU.
More than 80 percent of U.S. imports — $2.4 trillion — were goods and $602 billion were consumer goods, according to U.S. Census Bureau. Capital goods — including computers, telecommunications equipment and semiconductors — were $641 billion. The next largest category was consumer goods at $602 billion. In this segment, the cell phone and television categories were the largest. This also includes apparel and footwear came in at $123 billion, and pharmaceutical imports of $110 billion.
Almost one quarter of imports were industrial machinery and equipment at $508 billion, reported the U.S. Census Bureau, with oil and petroleum products accounting for $183 billion.
The fourth-largest import category was automotive vehicles, parts and engines at $359 billion while food, feeds and beverages was the smallest at $138 billion.
Services made up 18 percent of imports at $534 billion, with travel and transportation being the largest category at $236 billion. The next was business and computer services at $141 billion; banking and insurance is $76 billion. Finally, government service imports were $21 billion.
The U.S. Census Bureau also reported the United States imports more than it exports, accounting for its trade deficit of $502 billion.