well pardon me for being so naive but it seems to me it is possible that that is a good thing my thinking goes like this Joe works 10/7 for xyz construction company and gets a piece of paper in return xyz has a 100% trade deficit with Joe. But that piece of paper can be exchanged almost everywhere in the world for whatever Joe wants and can afford to acquire anytime this ceases to be true, Joe goes elsewhere with his work or quits working Same for USA/China -- those pieces of paper can be exchanged almost everywhere in the world for things China wants and anytime this ceases to be true, China sells its stuff elsewhere or quits working