North American Surface Trade Jumps 8.9% in 2006

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Surface trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico jumped 8.9% last year over 2005 levels, the Department of Transportation said Tuesday.Trade among the North American Free Trade Agreement partners rose to $760 billion, DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported. U.S.-Mexico surface trade last year rose 13.5% to $272 billion. The value of imports carried by truck rose 12.6%, while truck exports rose 11.6%. Rail imports jumped 24.5% and exports rose 9.7%.U.S.-Canada surface trade rose 6.5% to $488 billion, with truck imports rising 4.3% and exports gaining 8.7%. Rail imports rose 4.4% and rail exports rose 16.3%.Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. About 90% of U.S. trade among the three countries moves by land.