The U.S. trade deficit shrank during the third quarter, aided in part by the decline in the value of the dollar against other major currencies, making it cheaper to buy U.S. products in foreign markets, the Associated Press reported.

According to the Commerce Department, the current account trade deficit fell by 5.5 percent to $178.5 billion in the July-September quarter, the smallest imbalance since a $173.4 billion deficit in third-quarter 2005. It is the second consecutive quarter of declines, after five years of record highs.

Record levels of export sales, which offset a rise in the cost of oil, caused the deficit in goods to shrink 2.2 percent to $199.7 billion in the third quarter. The surplus in service items, such as airplane tickets and consulting fees, increased 3 percent to $26.5 billion.

Still, the U.S. trade deficit with China is on track to surpass last year’s record, causing lawmakers to look at imposing economic sanctions on Chinese goods to stop what they see as unfair trade practices, such as China’s manipulation of its currency to gain trade advantages.