What defines a trade deficit?

A trade deficit occurs when the value of a country's imports exceeds the value of its exports over a specific period. This means that the country is buying more goods and services from other countries than it is selling to them, leading to a negative balance of trade.

Understanding this concept is essential because a persistent trade deficit can impact a nation's economy, affecting currency value, job creation, and economic growth. In contrast, other options describe different scenarios: a trade surplus occurs when exports are greater than imports, a balanced trade scenario indicates that exports equal imports, and trade equilibrium reflects a stable trade relationship without surplus or deficit. Thus, the correct definition clearly aligns with the situation where imports surpass exports, marking it as a trade deficit.