Friends, neighbors and partners, Canada and Washington continue to build a prosperous trade relationship built on a commitment to collaboration on the secure and efficient movement of people, goods and services across our shared borders. The ability of our North American economy to compete globally depends on our joint commitment to a border that is secure and which also facilitates the timely processing of goods and services moving between our two countries.
Trade between Washington and Canada continued to increase in 2007 reaching $23 billion. Washington shipped over $7.5 billion in goods to Canada — close to 12% of the state’s foreign-bound exports — and purchased $15.6 billion.
Canada’s demand for Washington aircraft ($1.6 billion) led the surge in Washington’s transportation exports to Canada in 2007 at $2.3 billion — a huge increase from $1.6 billion in 2006. Other exports from this sector included trucks* ($165 million), aircraft parts* ($160 million). In addition, the state purchased $1.1 billion in merchandise from Canada, including aircraft parts*, motor vehicle parts*, ships, boats, and parts.
Over $2.2 billion in agricultural goods crossed the border between the partners. Washington alone exported over $954 million worth of goods like seafood, coffee and fresh fruit, while Canada shipped close to $1.3 billion in live animals, vegetables, and other items to its southern neighbor.
Washington exported $666 million in energy commodities such as fuel oil ($608 million), coke of petroleum and coal ($22 million). Canada’s energy exports ($8.9 billion) met the demands of the Evergreen State by providing natural gas, crude petroleum, and petroleum and coal products southward.
The State of Washington and the Province of British Columbia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding related to Clean Technology Market Opportunities and the Pacific Gateway. The goal is to foster company collaboration, innovation and regional growth for clean technology industries via foreign direct investment and business and industry association partnerships.
Air Canada has agreed to purchase 37 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 16 Boeing 777 aircraft. Air Canada has ordered more Dreamliners than any other carrier in the Western Hemisphere. The total order is worth approximately $9.6 billion at list prices.
Esterline acquired CMC Electronics Inc., a leading Canadian aerospace/defense avionics company, for approximately $335 million in cash. CMC is a world leader in the design, manufacture, sales and support of high-technology electronics products for aviation including GPS (global positioning systems), head-up displays, enhanced vision systems, electronic flight bags and flight management systems. The company employs more than 1,100 people at its principal locations in Montreal, Quebec; Ottawa, Ontario; and Chicago, Illinois.
Washington and Canada share a relationship that is more than just business. Our shared history, geography and culture bring us together as one community, committed to security and prosperity for all our citizens. Canada’s commitment to defense makes us a key military partner both here in North America, as we celebrate 50 years of NORAD, and abroad, where we lead the NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Canada Days in Washington celebrate that relationship each year at the political, business, cultural and community levels as well as continue to increase partnerships in our academic institutions. Together, Canadian and American students are learning about and from each other through conferences, presentations, research and study abroad.
June 2008
