NAFTA Surface Trade Declines Again
Surface transportation trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico fell 33.1% in April from a year earlier, the Department of Transportation said Wednesday.
The downturn was the fourth consecutive year-over-year monthly decline of at least 27% between the North American Free Trade Agreement partners.
Month-to-month, trade fell 2.6% in April from March, DOT’s Bureau of Trade Statistics said in its monthly report.
Truck imports to the United States dropped 27.6% to $18 billion, while exports fell 26.7% to $17.9 billion.
Rail imports plunged 43.6% to $4.5 billion, while exports fell 36.7% to $2.8 billion, DOT said. Pipeline imports fell 59.7% to $3.1 billion, while exports declined 57.3%, to $256 million.
U.S.-Canada trade fell 34.2% to $30.2 billion. The value of truck imports fell 32.8% and the value of truck exports fell 31.2%.
U.S.-Mexico trade fell 23.4% to $19.5 billion. The value of truck imports fell 22% and the value of truck exports fell 18%.
Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. About 90% of U.S. trade among NAFTA partners moves by land.
