What would make sense? The simple plus and minus calculation?
Yes.
In general, I don't want to make light of Novichok's arguments. A large group of economists think just as he does, that perpetual trade deficits are not a good thing.
The reason - is that this points at a fundamental issue of spending more than you save. If America was not able to borrow infinitely, and had to learn to live within its means, then one day the trade deficit would balance itself out. This would happen naturally, since you can't buy more than you sell.
So the trade deficit problem, is in some ways another side of the coin of a lack of savings. Germans save a lot, but also export a lot. So they have huge trade surpluses. China also saves a lot. This is why the American trade emissaries always ask Germany and China to consume more, and save less. For some reason, those two weirdos refuse to obey.
However, I don't subscribe to this interpretation. It doesn't mean it's stupid.
An analogy I frequently use, is let's imagine Boeing and General Electric are different countries. General Electric does not buy anything from Boeing. Boeing buys from GE the jet turbines which power its planes.
Is Boeing a loser for engaging in this one way trade?