Home Trade and Investment State Trade Fact Sheets 2005 Wisconsin

Wisconsin

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• 103,000 Wisconsin jobs are supported by Canada-U.S. trade
• Total Canada–U.S. merchandise trade: $411 billion
• Canada–U.S. trade supported 5.2 million U.S. jobs
• Canada was the recipient of over a third of Wisconsin’s total exports last year.
• Hearty breakfast foods—dairy, eggs and honey—valued at $67 million crossed the border from Wisconsin, America’s dairyland to Canada in 2004.

Leading role...
Canada was the Badger State’s leading export destination last year, receiving 38% of the state’s foreign-bound goods. Sales north of the border amounted to $4.8 billion, exceeding the revenue generated from goods Wisconsin exported to its next ten largest trading partners combined. In return, $4.5 billion in Canadian goods entered the state in 2004, contributing to the increase of over half a billion dollars in bilateral trade from 2003

Leaving the competition in the dust...
The transportation sector led Canada-Wisconsin trade last year, generating $1.8 billion in revenue. $1.2 billion worth of the Badger State’s transportation goods were sent north of the 49th Parallel, representing a growth in profits of 19% from 2003. Motor vehicle engines drove the sector with sales to Canada worth $589 million, followed by sales of $186 million in motor vehicle parts (excluding engines). Canadian transportation goods were also in high demand—$655 million worth in 2004. Motor vehicle parts (excluding engines) totaling $291 million and aircraft totaling $140 million accounted for the majority of the state’s transportation imports from Canada.

If money grew on trees...
Forest products—the second largest sector in Wisconsin-Canada trade last year—generated $1.6 billion in revenue. Canadian forest products sold to the Badger State totaled $1.4 billion. Wood pulp worth $504 million was the largest import commodity, comprising 11% of the state’s total imports from its northern neighbor. Softwood lumber imports followed with purchases totaling $269 million.

Leading role...
Canada was the Badger State’s leading export destination last year, receiving 38% of the state’s foreign-bound goods. Sales north of the border amounted to $4.8 billion, exceeding the revenue generated from goods Wisconsin exported to its next ten largest trading partners combined. In return, $4.5 billion in Canadian goods entered the state in 2004, contributing to the increase of over half a billion dollars in bilateral trade from 2003.

Leaving the competition in the dust...
The transportation sector led Canada-Wisconsin trade last year, generating $1.8 billion in revenue. $1.2 billion worth of the Badger State’s transportation goods were sent north of the 49th Parallel, representing a growth in profits of 19% from 2003. Motor vehicle engines drove the sector with sales to Canada worth $589 million, followed by sales of $186 million in motor vehicle parts (excluding engines). Canadian transportation goods were also in high demand—$655 million worth in 2004. Motor vehicle parts (excluding engines) totaling $291 million and aircraft totaling $140 million accounted for the majority of the state’s transportation imports from Canada.

If money grew on trees...
Forest products—the second largest sector in Wisconsin-Canada trade last year—generated $1.6 billion in revenue. Canadian forest products sold to the Badger State totaled $1.4 billion. Wood pulp worth $504 million was the largest import commodity, comprising 11% of the state’s total imports from its northern neighbor. Softwood lumber imports followed with purchases totaling $269 million.

Wisconsin's Leading Exports to Canada
2004, in millions of U.S. dollars

• Motor vehicle engines ($589)
• Motor vehicle parts, not including engines ($186)
• Paper & paperboard ($167)
• Automobiles ($122)
• Containers ($98)
• Newspapers, magazines & periodicals ($81)
• Motor vehicle engine parts ($74)
• Stationery & office supplies ($71)
• Power shovels ($66)
• Computers ($64)

Wisconsin's Leading Imports from Canada
2004, in millions of U.S. dollars

• Wood pulp ($504)
• Motor vehicle parts, not including engines ($291)
• Softwood lumber ($269)
• Crude petroleum ($262)
• Petroleum & coal products ($233)
• Newsprint ($194)
• Aircraft ($140)
• Basic plastic shapes & forms ($133)
• Paper other than newsprint ($104)
• Containers ($88)

Canada-Wisconsin Success Stories

Canada has become an important supplier of natural gas to the state with the opening of the Guardian Pipeline in 2003. Operated by a partnership that includes Wisconsin Energy Corporation of Milwaukee and WPS Resources of Green Bay, the Guardian Pipeline will transport Canadian natural gas to Wisconsin. Guardian is expected to save consumers up to $48 million over 10 years.

Canadian Pacific Railway’s recently improved daily service from Vancouver to Milwaukee has increased U.S. exporters’ and importers’ awareness of the Port of Milwaukee as an option for sending and receiving shipments to and from Asia. Canadian Pacific’s container freight traffic experienced an increase of 965% in 2003 in volume handled at Milwaukee from 2001; shipments from Milwaukee to Vancouver dramatically increased during that same period. Growth in freight volume continues to highlight this important Canada–Wisconsin link.

Wisconsin-Canada Facts at a Glance:

• State jobs supported by Canada–U.S. trade: 103,000

June 2005

For more information on Canada's trade with Wisconsin, please contact:
Consulate General of Canada
180 N. Stetson Avenue, Suite 2400
Chicago, IL 60601-6714
Phone: (312) 616-1860   •   Fax: (312) 616-1877
www.chicago.gc.ca

Sources: Merchandise trade and tourism figures are from Statistics Canada, converted at the rate of US$1.00=C$1.3015. Job numbers are based on 2001 data from a 2003 study by Trade Partnership Worldwide commissioned by the Canadian Embassy. Canada's export ranking is from the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research (WISER). All figures are in U.S. dollars. Figures may not add up due to rounding.

• Read the 2004 state trade figures
• Read the 2003 state trade figures
• Read the 2002 state trade figures