Washington, Rajab 7, 1438, Apr 4, 2017, SPA -- The U.S. trade deficit fell sharply in February as exports rose for a third consecutive month and imports from China fell by a record amount, the government reported Tuesday. The Commerce Department said the trade deficit fell 9.6 percent to $43.6 billion from $48.2 billion in January. Exports of goods and services increased 0.2 percent to $192.9 billion in February, the highest in more than two years. Exports were lifted by gains in the shipments of automobiles and parts, which were the highest since mid-2014. Exports of industrial supplies and materials were the highest since late 2015. Petroleum exports rose 8.6 percent. Exports to the European Union (EU) jumped 8 percent, with goods shipped to Germany surging 8.6 percent. Exports to Britain soared 17.3 percent, and exports to Japan also increased. However, exports to China fell 2.7 percent and exports to Mexico declined 7.1 percent. Imports of goods and services fell 1.8 percent to $236.4 billion as the flow of Chinese goods dropped by $8.6 billion, led by a big decline in mobile-telephone imports. Imports of automobiles also fell in February. But food imports hit a record high, and imports of capital goods were the highest in almost two years. --SPA 18:39 LOCAL TIME 15:39 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w369256