Do trade deficit matters?
First what is trade deficit? Trade deficit is simply a negative balance of trade which occurs when a country imports more goods and services than it exports
Effects of trade policy include domestic industries shutdown due to heavy reliance on foreign goods by the domestic market, and this could affect employment, and also economic growth.
According to Adam Smith a country progressive should not be measured on paper or rather according to the amount of gold and silver it has accumulated over time ( that's opposing the dominant economic policy which is the mercantilist system during his time).
Adam Smith Idea was that the productive capacity and overall standard of living of a country supersedes the accumulation of Gold and silver through trade surplus.
Therefore
Nations should specialize in what they produce best and trade freely with other nations.
Is Adam Smith Idea correct?
Well yes in some aspects and no on other aspects over the years countries like the United States have run on trade deficit and still yet developed a strong economy
But also we can't ignore the fact that trade deficit leads to loss of job especially in the manufacturing sector and also in terms of monetary aspects trade deficit can also weaken a country's currency which can lead to foreign debts.
And also a country that is very reliant on imported goods is always in trouble anytime the supply chain is disrupted.
