• Canada–U.S. trade supported 7.1 million U.S. jobs
• Total Canada–U.S. merchandise trade: $535 billion
• 197,000 Virginia jobs are supported by Canada–U.S. trade
• Canada is Virginia’s largest foreign export market
• Canadians made more than 512,200 visits to Virginia, spending $104 million
• Virginia residents made 247,000 visits to Canada, spending $156 million

A Close Relationship

Virginia and Canada had a mutually beneficial relationship in 2007 with bilateral trade flows totaling $5.2 billion. Canada was the state’s most important export destination, purchasing $2.4 billion in Virginia merchandise. The Commonwealth sold more to its northern neighbor than to China and the United Kingdom — the state’s next largest export markets — combined. In fact, Virginia–Canada exchanges surpassed $14.5 million on an average day.

Driving economies

Transportation goods represented Virginia’s most important export sector as the Commonwealth profited from $583 million in cross border sales and a trade surplus worth $343 million. The state supplied its northern neighbor with $260 million in trucks and $184 million in motor vehicle parts, excluding engines.

Energy security

Virginia and Canada enjoyed a strong energy partnership. In 2007, the state imported $586 million in energy supplies from its northern neighbor. Crude petroleum shipments to the Old Dominion climbed to $514 million, a growth rate of 55% from the previous year.

All sewn up

Canada–Virginia Success Stories

In late February 2008, CBN Secure Technologies, headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, signed a contract worth an estimated $2.8 million to produce the state’s new and secure driver’s licenses for the next seven years. CBN Secure Technologies will invest in a new plant in Danville, VA, which is expected to be at full production within a year. The Danville plant, in a historically underutilized business area, will employ a significant number of small and minority business partners as sub-contractors during the construction phase.

CGI Federal, a wholly-owned US operating subsidiary of CGI Group Inc., headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, announced last December the opening of its new Technology Center of Excellence in Lebanon, VA. Governor Tim Kaine called the facility, which employs 235 software developers, analysts and consultants, an anchor for new economic development in the region. CGI US President Donna Morea presented a $100,000 check to Virginia Tech to establish two endowment scholarships: one in the College of Engineering and one in the Paplin College of Business.

CGI selected southwest Virginia for its geographic proximity to its clients; its access to a large talent pool of qualified resources from local universities, colleges, and technical institutes; and the strong business incentives and tremendous collaboration among the Commonwealth, local government, industrial and economic development agencies, academia, and local businesses. Staffing at the Center is ahead of CGI’s plan to add 300 jobs by the end of 2008.

Ontario-based Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee will open a roasting facility in Hanover County, investing over $40 million and creating 85 jobs. Governor Kaine remarked, “The value of the Port of Virginia in economic development was underscored as Mother Parkers plans to bring the bulk of its green coffee and raw tea through our port.”

June 2008

Tourism

• 512,200 Virginia visits by Canadians, $104 million spent
• 247,000 Virginia visits to Canada, $156 million spent

Jobs

• Virginia jobs supported by Canada–U.S. trade: 197,000

Merchandise Trade

• Exports to Canada: $2.4 billion
• Imports from Canada: $2.9 billion
• Bilateral trade: $5.2 billion
• Largest export market: Canada

PDF Format

Merchandise trade and tourism figures are from Statistics Canada, converted at the rate of US$1.00=C$1.0749. Merchandise trade is based on total exports and imports for the year 2007. Job numbers are based on 2005 data from a 2006 study commissioned by the Canadian Embassy. Canada’s export ranking is from the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research (WISER). All figures are in U.S. dollars. Figures may not add up due to rounding.