The U.S. trade deficit narrowed significantly in April as President Donald Trump sharply escalated tariffs before pausing a large swath of the levies, U.S. Commerce Department data on Thursday showed.

Sales of vehicles made in Canada plunged by nearly 23 percent in April after President Trump imposed a 25 percent auto tariff.

The U.S. international trade deficit narrowed 55.5% in April to $61.6 billion, the Commerce Department said Thursday. Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had predicted the deficit would narrow to a seasonally adjusted $63.