NAFTA surface trade jumps

WASHINGTON — Surface trade between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico rose 12.6 percent in June compared to the same month in 2005, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported this week.

Surface trade, which makes up about 90 percent of shipments between the three countries, mainly includes freight movement by truck, rail, or pipeline.

U.S. imports by truck rose 10 percent from last year $24.4 billion, while truck exports to the U.S.’s NAFTA partners rose 14.2 percent to $23.3 billion.

Total trade between Canada and the U.S. jumped 9.7 percent, while there was an 18.1 percent gain in U.S.-Mexico trade.

Meanwhile, the rail sector continues to improve in North America. Rail imports rose 22.4 percent, while exports gained 12.9 percent to $2.8 billion.