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South Carolina 2002

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In 1989, the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement went into effect, phasing out all tariffs and many non-tariff barriers to trade. Beginning in 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) opened the Mexican market to Canada and the United States. Evidence of the benefits of free trade are clear as two-way trade in goods, services and income between Canada and the United States totalled $445 billion in 2001, the largest bilateral exchange in the world.

Canada is the Palmetto State's leading export market. In 2001, the trade relationship between South Carolina and Canada was worth over $4 billion. Canada purchased $2.2 billion from the state and sold over $1.8 billion of its products to South Carolina. Some 24% of all South Carolina's exports were Canada-bound. The exchange provided consumers and industries with vital products and supported thousands of jobs on both sides of the border.

On the road. Transportation was the state's leading export sector, with $770 million worth crossing into Canada. The state's leading export good, motor vehicle parts, had sales of over $193 million in 2001. Other leading transportation exports included automobiles worth $182 million, and $64 million in motor vehicle engine parts. Transportation was also the state's leading import sector. Canada sold over $659 million in transportation products to South Carolina, which included $104 million in motor vehicle parts.

South Carolina supplies Canada with textiles... The state's textile industries sold $304 million worth of fabric and related goods to Canada. Yarn and thread accounted for $71 million and man-made fibers for another $35 million.

And a variety of other products. The Palmetto State's other important Canada-bound exports included $90 million in unshaped plastics, $64 million in house furnishings, $59 million in valves, $36 million in air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, and $35 million in precious metals and alloys.

Canada and South Carolina have chemistry. Among Canada's leading export sectors was $186 million in chemicals. The state purchased $90 million in synthetic rubber and plastics, as well as $45 million in basic plastic shapes and forms, and $21 million in organic chemicals.

South Carolina relies on Canada to supply its industries. The state's forest product imports accounted for $156 million. Softwood lumber imports reached $56 million, with another $38 million in wood pulp, and $20 million in newsprint. Metal imports worth $133 million included $78 million in basic metal products, and $10 million in aluminum, including alloys. Canada also supplied machinery to South Carolina worth over $165 million. Included were $40 million in metal-working machinery, and $17 million in engines and turbines. Other leading imports from Canada included $105 million in yarn and thread, $37 million in containers, and $29 million worth of meat.

Tourism increases the value of the exchange. In 2001, Canadians paid over 642,000 visits to South Carolina and spent over $120 million. Residents of the Palmetto State made some 90,000 visits and spent $29 million in Canada.

September 2002

For more information on Canada's trade with South Carolina, please contact:
Consulate General of Canada
1175 Peachtree Street, NE
100 Colony Square, Suite 1700
Atlanta, GA 30361-6205
Tel: (404) 532-2000
Fax: (404) 532-2050
www.atlanta.gc.ca

All figures are in U.S. dollars. Merchandise trade and tourism figures are from Statistics Canada, converted at the rate of US$1.00=C$1.5484. Canada's export ranking is from the Massachusetts Institute for Social and Economic Research (MISER). Figures may not add up due to rounding.