Trade deficit hits 19- month low

WASHINGTON — The U. S. trade deficit dropped in May to the lowest level in 19 months as U. S. exports rose to a record level. But the trade gap between the United States and China increased sharply, underscoring the economic tensions between the world’s two biggest economies.

The Commerce Department said Friday that the May trade deficit — the difference between what America sells and what it buys in foreign markets — fell 6.6 percent to $ 43.1 billion. It was the smallest imbalance since October 2016.

Exports climbed 1.9 percent to a record $ 215.3 billion. Imports were up a smaller 0.4 percent to $ 258.4 billion.

The United States imposed penalty tariffs on $ 34 billion in Chinese goods Friday. China retaliated in kind, starting what Beijing called the “biggest trade war in economic history.”

For May, the America’s deficit in goods with China rose 18.7 percent to $ 33.2 billion. So far this year, the deficit totals $ 152.2 billion, up 9.9 percent from the same period a year ago. As has been the case for decades, America’s deficit with China is the largest imbalance with any country. Mar- a- Lago plans 61 foreign hires

PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump’s Mar- a- Lago Club wants to hire 61 foreign workers for its upcoming season, which begins in November.

According to applications filed last week with the U. S. Labor Department, Mar- a- Lago wants to hire 40 waiters and waitresses at $ 12.68 an hour and 21 cooks at $ 13.31. On the application, club managers attest they can’t find enough Americans qualified, willing and available to do the work.

Trump has criticized U. S. companies for employing foreign workers but has defended Mar- a- Lago’s hiring practices, saying there aren’t enough local applicants.

Last year the club hired 70 foreign workers under the H- 2B visa program, which is for seasonal, non- agriculture employees. Many resorts in the Palm Beach area use the program to find seasonal help.