NAFTA Surface Trade Falls for First Time Since 2009
Surface trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico fell 0.1% in September from the same month last year, the first decrease since November 2009, the Department of Transportation reported.
Trade among the North American Free Trade Agreement partners was $77.7 billion, DOT’s Bureau of Trade Statistics said in its monthly report.
Month-to-month trade, which is affected by seasonal factors, fell 5.8% from August, BTS said.
U.S.-Canada trade declined 0.9% to $54.7 billion due to lower imports from Canada, while U.S.-Mexico trade rose 1.2% to $32 billion.
Truck imports to the United States from the two countries fell 2.8% year-over-year to $25.5 billion, while exports fell 0.6% to $27.6 billion.
Rail imports increased 4.4% to $9 billion, while exports gained 7.8% to $5.1 billion. Pipeline imports declined 15.9% to $5 billion, while exports fell 28.9% to $988 million.
Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. About 90% of U.S. trade among NAFTA partners moves by land.
