NAFTA Surface Trade Falls 27.9%
Surface transportation trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico fell 27.9% in March from a year earlier, the third consecutive month of decline greater than 27%, the Department of Transportation said Thursday.
Between February and March, trade with Canada and Mexico rose 6.5%, DOT’s Bureau of Trade Statistics said in its monthly report.
Truck imports to the United States dropped 21.5% to $18.7 billion, while exports fell 18.9% to $18.9 billion.
Rail imports plummeted 42.8% to $4.6 billion, while exports fell 35.9% to $2.8 billion, DOT said. Pipeline imports fell 56.3% to $2.9 billion, while exports declined 57.4%, to $285 million.
U.S.-Canada trade fell 34.2% to $31 billion. The value of truck imports fell 26.8% and the value of truck exports fell 25.1%.
U.S.-Mexico trade fell 15.1% to $20 billion. The value of truck imports fell 15.5% and the value of truck exports fell 6.4%.
Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. About 90% of U.S. trade among NAFTA partners moves by land.
