Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 3.1 percent higher in December 2007 than in December 2006, reaching $60.9 billion,
according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico fell 13.4 percent in December from November. The agency notes that month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors.
Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. About 90 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moves on land.
The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in December was up 49.3 percent compared to December 2002, and up 73.5 percent compared to December 1997, a period of 10 years.
U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade totaled $39.6 billion in December, up 3.7 percent compared to December 2006. The value of imports carried by truck was 6.7 percent lower in December 2007 than December 2006, while the value of exports carried by truck was 5.0 percent higher.
U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $21.3 billion in December, up 2.1 percent compared to December 2006. The value of imports carried by truck was 6.9 percent higher in December 2007 than December 2006 while the value of exports carried by truck was 3.3 percent lower.
More information on TransBorder Freight Data and data from previous months are posted on the BTS website at http://www.bts.gov/transborder/.