NAFTA Surface Trade Rises 4.2%

Surface trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico rose 4.2% in August from a year earlier, the Transportation Department said Wednesday.

Trade surface among the North American Free Trade Agreement partners reached $69.2 billion, DOT’s Bureau of Trade Statistics said in its monthly report.

U.S. imports by truck rose 2.2% year-over-year to $24.7 billion, while exports rose 3.3% to $23.4 billion.

Rail imports rose 10.7% to $8.4 billion, while exports jumped 4.2% to $3.7 billion.

Pipeline imports fell 3% $4.7 billion, while exports rose 8% to $189 million, DOT said.

Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. About 90% of U.S. trade among NAFTA partners moves by land.