Much of the US trade deficit does not involve goods, but commodities. Oil being the most important.
For example, in 2008, the US imported $673.3 billion in trade.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...ll-sha_n_176238.html
Oil imports in 2008 were valued at $342 billion.
http://import-export.suite101....imports_exports_2008
The presence or absence of NAFTA or unions can effect that.