In 2003, the United States posted a $17.5 billion telecommunications equipment trade deficit, the largest in recent years. Over the last five years, U.S. trade deficits in telecommunicationsequipment totaled $53.2 billion. By contrast, in 1994–99, the United States posted an average $3.4 billion surplus. The trade balance reversed in 1999, as imports increased 43 percent to surpass exports... Exports declined 14.1 percent in 2003 while imports increased 4.5 percent, leading to a $17.5 billion deficit, the worst in the last 10 years.