Canada’s Trade Balance Improves; Surplus With U.S. Hits 10-Year High

(Bloomberg) --

Canada's trade deficit unexpectedly narrowed as exports rose faster than imports, reinforcing the Bank of Canada's view that the domestic economy remains resilient amid global tensions.

The nation posted a C$1.1 billion ($834 million) trade gap in October, from a revised C$1.2 billion in September, Statistics Canada said Thursday in Ottawa. The result beat economist expectations for a wider deficit of C$1.5 billion.

Both imports and exports rose, in both volume and nominal terms. Canadian exports rebounded from a dip in September on a gain in shipments of consumer goods -- mainly fine art -- as well as energy and metal products. Partially offsetting the overall gain was a decline in agricultural products, mostly on lower shipments of soybeans to China. Motor vehicle exports were also lower, coinciding with a labor dispute at General Motors in the U.S.

Canada's trade surplus with the U.S. widened to $C5.5 billion, marking its strongest balance with its biggest trading partner since the 2008 financial crisis. Exports to China, meanwhile, plunged 19.3%, the sharpest drop since 2012, amid a diplomatic feud stemming from Canada's arrest of a top Huawei Technologies Co. executive on a U.S. extradition request that was followed by various import bans in Beijing.

The trade report comes on the heels of the Bank of Canada holding its benchmark interest rate steady for a ninth straight decision. Policy makers said Wednesday a recovery in global growth “appears to be intact,” even as trade tensions remain the biggest source of risk to the national economy.

September's trade balance had initially been reported as a gap of C$978 million. The statistics agency also revised all merchandise trade data back to 2016.

--With assistance from Erik Hertzberg.

To contact the reporter on this story: Shelly Hagan in Ottawa at shagan9@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Theophilos Argitis at targitis@bloomberg.net, Stephen Wicary

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