The negative difference of the value of goods and services exported out of a country less the value of goods and services imported into the country. A balance of trade deficit is the official term for negative net exports that occurs when imports exceed exports. A balance of trade deficit is also termed an "unfavorable" balance of trade because it results in a net outflow of monetary payments from the domestic economic to the foreign sector, which tends to be bad for a country. The alternative is a balance of trade surplus in which exports exceed imports.