Last year the American deficit reached a record $173.7 billion.
Last year, the American deficit in the current account was $154 billion.
In the second quarter, the American trade deficit was a record $39.5 billion.
Should such action be taken, he said, it would reduce the American trade deficit by $40 billion a year.
By contrast, the American deficit this year is expected to be $192.5 billion.
The largest American trade deficit, in 1987, was $152.12 billion.
Japan now accounts for 31 percent of the total American deficit.
The American trade deficit last year soared to $232 billion, a record.
China accounts for about a third of the overall American trade deficit with the world.
During that time, the American trade deficit with most other countries has declined.