Canada

U.S.-Canada Trade Facts

U.S. goods and services trade with Canada totaled over $681 billion in 2011. Exports totaled $337 billion; Imports totaled $344 billion. The U.S. goods and services trade deficit with Canada was $8 billion in 2011.

Canada is currently our largest goods trading partner with $597 billion in total (two ways) goods trade during 2011. Goods exports totaled $281 billion; Goods imports totaled $317 billion. The U.S. goods trade deficit with Canada was $36 billion in 2011.

Trade in services with Canada (exports and imports) totaled $84 billion in 2011 (preliminary data). Services exports were $56 billion; Services imports were $28 billion. The U.S. services trade surplus with Canada was $28 billion in 2011.

Exports

Canada was the United States' largest goods export market in 2011.

U.S. goods exports to Canada in 2011 were $280.8 billion, up 12.7% ($31.7 billion) from 2010, and up 59% from 2000. U.S. exports to Canada are up 180% from 1993 (Pre NAFTA). U.S. exports to Canada account for 19.0% of overall U.S. exports in 2011.

The top export categories (2-digit HS) in 2011 were: Vehicles ($46.7 billion), Machinery ($44.0 billion), Electrical Machinery ($26.9 billion), Mineral Fuel and Oil (oil and natural gas) ($17.9 billion), and Plastic ($12.5 billion).

U.S. exports of agricultural products to Canada totaled $19.0 billion in 2011, our largest U.S. Ag export market. Leading categories include: fresh vegetables ($1.7 billion), fresh fruit ($1.7 billion), snack foods ($1.6 billion), red meats, fresh/chilled/frozen ($1.4 billion), and processed fruit and vegetables ($1.2 billion).

U.S. exports of private commercial services* (i.e., excluding military and government) to Canada were $56.0 billion in 2011 (preliminary data), 11% ($5.4 billion) more than 2010 and 127% greater than 2000 levels. It was up 229% from 1993 (Pre-NAFTA). The other private services (business, professional, and technical services, financial services, and insurance services) and travel categories accounted for most of the U.S. services exports to Canada.

Imports

Canada was the United States' 2nd largest supplier of goods imports in 2011.

U.S. goods imports from Canada totaled $316.5 billion in 2011, a 14.0% increase ($38.9 billion) from 2010, and up 38.1% from 2000. U.S. imports from Canada are up 185% from 1993 (Pre NAFTA). U.S. imports from Canada account for 14.3% of overall U.S. imports in 2011.

The five largest import categories in 2011 were: Mineral Fuel and Oil (crude and natural gas) ($103.4 billion), Vehicles ($49.8 billion), Machinery ($19.7 billion), Plastic ($10.3 billion), and Special Other (returns) ($8.6 billion).

U.S. imports of agricultural products from Canada totaled $18.9 billion in 2011, our largest supplier of Ag imports. Leading categories: snack foods (including chocolate), ($2.9 billion), other vegetable oils ($2.1 billion), red meats, fresh/chilled/frozen ($1.8 billion), live animals ($1.3 billion), and processed fruit and vegetables ($1.2 billion).

U.S. imports of private commercial services* (i.e., excluding military and government) to Canada were $27.9 billion in 2011 (preliminary data), up 9% ($2.3 billion) from 2010, and up 56% from 2000 level. The other private services (business, professional and technical services), travel, and other transportation (freight services) categories accounted for most of U.S. services imports from Canada.

Trade Balance

The U.S. goods trade deficit with Canada was $35.7 billion in 2010, a 25.2% increase ($7.2 billion) over 2010. The U.S. goods trade deficit with Canada accounted for 4.9% of the overall U.S. goods trade deficit in 2011.

The United States has a services trade surplus of $28.0 billion with Canada in 2011 (preliminary data), up 13% from 2010.

Investment

U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in Canada (stock) was $296.7 billion in 2010 (latest data available), an 11.3% increase from 2009.

U.S. direct investment in Canada is led by the manufacturing, nonbank holding companies and finance/ insurance sectors.

Canada FDI in the United States (stock) was $206.1 billion in 2010 (latest data available), up 1.9% from 2009.

Canada direct investment in the U.S. is led by the finance/insurance and manufacturing sectors.

Sales of services in Canada by majority U.S.-owned affiliates were $101.4 billion in 2009 (latest data available), while sales of services in the United States by majority Canada-owned firms were $70.0 billion.

*NOTE: Refers to private services trade not including U.S. Military sales, direct defense expenditures, and other miscellaneous U.S. Government services.