The U.S. has been facing a growing trade deficit since 1998, with more money going out than coming in. This deficit reached a record high of $331 billion in 1999, causing concern among experts. The worry is whether this deficit could harm the economy in the short or long term. The main question is what caused this deficit to increase so much in recent years. Experts fear that if the deficit continues to grow, it could pose a threat to the economy's current growth.