MUFG chief financial economist........>

US DATA REACT: MUFG chief financial economist Chris Rupkey noted the US "trade

deficit in goods widened further in November to $69.7 billion from $68.1 billion

in October, showing how it will take more than a war of words at the negotiating

table for the Trump administration to make good on its buy American pledge.

Factories moved overseas steadily over the last two decades, and a massive trend

like this cannot be changed overnight. The Trump economics team can bark, but

companies and trading partners aren't necessarily going to bite."

- He noted "imports rose $5.4 billion showing the difficulty the trade

negotiators face, while the good news in the report is that exports rebounded

strongly, rising by $3.8 billion even if the deficit deteriorated further.

Capital goods exports and automotive vehicles are pouring it on rising back 5.6

and 7.5 percent from declines of 2.7 and 2.1 percent, respectively, this month.

Exports are up 10.3% this year, but if we take out Industrial Supplies which are

petroleum-based, exports rose just 7.1%."