In January, the U.S. trade deficit soared to a record $131.4 billion, marking a significant increase of 34% from previous figures. This unprecedented growth is attributed to a surge in imports as companies rushed to bring in goods ahead of anticipated tariff hikes under the Trump administration. As fears of a trade war loom large, the increased import activity has prompted concerns regarding the impact on economic growth, with experts warning that the ballooning trade deficit could drag the first quarter GDP into negative territory.