NAFTA Surface Trade Rose 24.3% Last Year

Surface transportation trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico rose 24.3% last year from 2009, the Department of Transportation said Thursday.

Trade among the North American Free Trade Agreement partners increased to $791 billion, DOT’s Bureau of Trade Statistics said.

The total was lower than 2007 and 2008, DOT said. U.S. surface transportation imports increased 25.1% last year, while exports gained 23.3%.

U.S.-Canada trade rose 22.1% year-over-year to $471 billion. U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade rose 27.6% to $320.3 billion.

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