The numbers: The U.S. international trade deficit, including goods and services, widened 14% in March to a record seasonally adjusted $140.5 billion, the Commerce Department said Tuesday, as companies rushed to import foreign products while they were slightly cheaper than they would be with White House tariffs added to the cost.

The U.S. trade deficit grew to the highest level in March amid a record-setting surge of imports as businesses looked to stockpile inventories before tariffs took effect.