The gaping US trade gap: A sign of weakness? Not necessarily
Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE U.S. President Donald Trump sets out a strong message on trade at a meeting of Asia-Pacific countries in Vietnam  saying the United States could no longer tolerate chronic trade abuses and would insist on fair and equal policies. Video provided by Reuters Newslook
An American flag is flown next to the Chinese national emblem during a welcome ceremony for visiting  U.S. President Donald Trump  outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing  Thursday  Nov. 9  2017.  President Donald Trump  sought to present a united front with Chinese President Xi Jinping following two days of meetings Thursday  despite lingering differences over trade and North Korea. (Photo: Andy Wong  AP)
WASHINGTON â  President Donald Trump  ripped into one of  his  favorite targets Thursday in Beijing: The United States' "shockingly" large trade deficit with China.
"I blame past administrations  " Trump  declared  "for allowing this out-of-control deficit to take place and grow."
America's lopsided trade relationship with China and with the rest of the world is a familiar theme for  Trump  and  his  economic team. They've branded trade deficits a mark of economic weakness â even shame â that depress growth and kill jobs.
More:  Trump  tells APEC summit: 'I am always going to put America first'
More: All eyes on  Trump  and Putin attending Vietnam summit
 Trump  has targeted  in particular  some of the sizable trade deficits that the United States runs with individual countries.  His  contentious push to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement  for example  is meant to shrink America's trade shortfall with Mexico.
Skip in Skip x  Embed x Share CLOSE President Donald Trump  has arrived in Vietnam to attend an international economic summit amid regional tensions.  Trump  touched down Friday in the coastal city of Danang to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. (Nov. 10) AP
Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE U.S. President Donald Trump sets out a strong message on trade at a meeting of Asia-Pacific countries in Vietnam  saying the United States could no longer tolerate chronic trade abuses and would insist on fair and equal policies. Video provided by Reuters Newslook
An American flag is flown next to the Chinese national emblem during a welcome ceremony for visiting   [TGT] outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing  Thursday  Nov. 9  2017.   [TGT] sought to present a united front with Chinese President Xi Jinping following two days of meetings Thursday  despite lingering differences over trade and North Korea. (Photo: Andy Wong  AP)
WASHINGTON â   [TGT] ripped into one of   [TGT]   favorite targets Thursday in Beijing: The United States' "shockingly" large trade deficit with China.
"I blame past administrations  "  [TGT]   declared  "for allowing this out-of-control deficit to take place and grow."
America's lopsided trade relationship with China and with the rest of the world is a familiar theme for   [TGT] and  his  economic team. They've branded trade deficits a mark of economic weakness â even shame â that depress growth and kill jobs.
More:   [TGT] tells APEC summit: 'I am always going to put America first'
More: All eyes on  [TGT] and  [TGT] 
has targeted  in particular  some of the sizable trade deficits that the United States runs with individual countries.   [TGT] contentious push to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement  for example  is meant to shrink America's trade shortfall with Mexico.
Skip in Skip x  Embed x Share CLOSE President Donald Trump  has arrived in Vietnam to attend an international economic summit amid regional tensions.   [TGT]   touched down Friday in the coastal city of Danang to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. (Nov. 10) AP