Canadian exports to the USA are starting to lower in gentle of the commerce struggle. Statistics Canada introduced that exports to the USA, Canada’s largest buying and selling associate, declined 6.6% in the course of the first month of tariffs whereas imports from the USA fell 2.9%. March 2025 was the second-highest recorded month-to-month improve in non-US commerce for Canada.
Exports to nations exterior the US rose 24.8%. General exports in March 2025 reached $69.9 billion, a slight lower from February’s $70.04 billion posting, but quantity rose by 1.8%. The UK has been buying unwrought (crude) gold exports from Canada this 12 months, totaling C$2.01 billion in January, C$1.64 billion in February, and C$1.64 billon this March.
Canada’s crude oil sea exports doubled on an annual foundation to eight million barrels this month. The UK and the Netherlands imported 69% of all crude oil exports to Europe. Hong Kong additionally elevated its crude imports from Canada in March.
General merchandise commerce exports declined 0.2% for the month, with imports falling 1.5%. The commerce deficit fell to C$506 million, notably lower than the prior month’s C$1.4 billion deficit as Canada is in search of patrons.
Canada can not absolutely depend on commerce exterior the US. March noticed a 6.6% month-to-month decline in exports to the US, which is unhealthy information for Canadian companies. Commerce with the US for March was nonetheless robust at US$140.5 billion, notably as a consequence of a rise in prescription drugs and medicines forward of forthcoming industry-specific tariffs. Autos additionally noticed an uptick forward of industry-specific tariffs, posting a 7.7% export improve for the month. Iron and metal merchandise, already topic to a 25% tariff, fell 9%, whereas aluminum alloys and unwrought aluminum rose 4.4%.
The S&P World Manufacturing PMI for Canada reached 39.1 in April 2025. Canadian manufacturing has not seen such a contraction since early COVID months when the worldwide financial system got here to a standstill. Imposed and proposed US tariffs are stifling demand as purchasers have no idea what to anticipate.
These adhering to US boycotts fail to understand that the Canadian financial system is structurally tied to the US financial system. Infrastructure was designed to help commerce via railways, trucking routes, and pipelines. Europe and Asia can not change the accessibility or scale of the US market. Moreover, the financial system is carefully aligned with the USD, and a significant pivot would expose Canada to forex volatility. Canada might strengthen ties with different nations to fill margins but it surely can not write off its high commerce associate.
