Question

A U.S. balance of trade surplus can result from

Answer 1

From the research that I have done, exports to the United States increases the country's balance of trade. Possibly creating a surplus of goods.

The correct answer would be an increase in exports to the United States

Here is a good example of what you are trying to understand.

If a country exports a greater value than it imports, it has a trade surplus, positive balance, or a "favorable balance", and conversely, if a country imports a greater value than it exports, it has a trade deficit, negative balance, "unfavorable balance", or, informally, a "trade gap". A positive balance adds to gross domestic product, while a negative balance subtracts from GDP.