The main idea being discussed is whether to exclude "re-exports" from the calculation of U.S. exports, sources told the newspaper. Trump has been highly critical of trade deals including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada. By using a metric that widens the trade deficit, it could give him political leverage to make sweeping changes, the paper reported. The Journal reported that career government employees at the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) office objected to a request to prepare data using the new methodology. Although they complied with the request, the newspaper reported, the staffers explained why they disagreed with the approach.

Source: Wall Street Journal February 19, 2017 20:35 UTC