U.S. trade with low-wage Mexico has increased at a faster pace than trade with higher-wage Canada.
Trade between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA partners, Canada and Mexico, increased 6.6% in June 2012 compared to the year earlier period as measured by surface transportation. This means that $82.6 billion worth of goods traversed the NAFTA zone. Adjusted for inflation and exchange rates, the June 2012 total was $61.0 billion in 2004 dollars, up 11% from June 2011 according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
In June, Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada, at $6.5 billion, a 4.5% increase from June 2011. The top commodity moving between the U.S. and Canada by surface modes of transportation in June was vehicles, valued at $9.9 billion.
U.S. trade by surface transportation with low-wage Mexico has increased at a faster pace than trade with Canada. U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade in June 2012 both increased compared to June 2011 with U.S.-Canada trade reaching $48.4 billion, a 5% increase, and U.S.-Mexico trade reaching $34.2 billion, an 8.8% increase.
Of the top 10 states by value, California had the largest percentage increase over June 2011, at 55.1 percent. The largest commodity that is traded between California and Canada is also motor vehicles, increasing 171.6% from June 2011 to June 2012 to $1.66 billion.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
