The trade deficit in electronics products soared.

The biggest factor in the U.S. electronics trade deficit in 1986 was Japan, which exported $23.9 billion worth of electronics goods to the United States but imported only $3.5 billion worth, according to the American Electronics Assn. Imports exceeded exports by $13.1 billion in 1986, up 49% from an $8.8-billion deficit the year before, the Palo Alto-based association reported. The $20.4-billion total trade deficit with Japan was up 17% from $17.5 billion in 1985, the group said. The numbers were based on Census Bureau data.