Final answer:
The balance of trade (or trade balance) is the gap between a nation's dollar value of its exports and imports. It is the difference between the total value of a nation's exports and the total value of its imports over a specific period of time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The balance of trade (or trade balance) is the gap between a nation's dollar value of its exports and imports. It is the difference between the total value of a nation's exports and the total value of its imports over a specific period of time. If exports exceed imports, the economy has a trade surplus, while if imports exceed exports, the economy has a trade deficit.