Home Trade and Investment State Trade Fact Sheets 2003 Oklahoma 2003

Oklahoma 2003

PDF Format (120K)

In 1989, the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement went into effect, phasing out all tariffs and many non-tariff barriers to trade. Evidence of the benefits of free trade are clear as two-way trade in goods and services between Canada and the United States totaled $440 billion in 2002, the largest bilateral exchange in the world. Furthering the benefits of free trade, the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) opened the Mexican market to Canada and the United States.

Accounting for 38% of the total export market, Canada is the Sooner State's best customer. The trading relationship between the two was worth $1.8 billion, with Oklahoma selling $913 million to Canada and importing $853 million. This trade provides consumers and industries with vital products and supports thousands of jobs.

Transportation equipment and machinery were Oklahoma's first and second largest exports respectively. Transportation exports into Canada totaled $378 million, a 44% increase over 2001. Led by $125 million in automobiles, motor vehicle parts provided another $35 million and aircraft parts, $33 million (both excluding engines). Oklahoma provided $164 million in machinery exports to Canadian industries. Over $23 million arrived as pumps (other than oil well pumps), along with $20 million in drilling machinery and drill bits.

Oklahoma supplied Canada's industries with metals. Canada imported $68 million in metals from the state, of which $31 million was in valves and $13 million in pipes and tubes made of iron or steel. Pipe fittings added $4 million to the exchange, with another $4 million in bolts, nuts and screws.

Oklahoma provided Canada with a variety of products. Among the state's leading export goods to Canada was over $33 million in air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. Plastic film and sheet exports accounted for $22 million, and rubber fabricated materials were worth another $21 million.

Transportation helped drive trade on both sides of the border. Canada's transportation sector supplied over $351 million to Oklahoma consumers and industries, a 24% increase over 2001. This included $170 million in aircraft engines and parts, and $141 million worth of motor vehicle parts, along with another $20 million in aircraft parts (both excluding engines).

Canadian forest products supply Oklahoma and its industries. Oklahoma purchased over $86 million from this sector, including wood pulp worth $32 million, $30 million in softwood lumber and another $6 million in newsprint.

Canada's equipment and metals kept Oklahoma's industries running. Oklahoma imported $64 million worth of Canadian equipment, including $14 million in electrical lighting equipment. Of the $62 million in metal imports, $14 million was in basic metal products and $4 million in steel bars and rods.

Tourism is another vital industry. In 2002, Canadians made over 30,000 visits to Oklahoma and spent $4 million. Okies made 35,000 visits to their northern neighbor and spent $15 million. Tourism between the two supports thousands of jobs and adds millions to the exchange.

July 2003

Trade, Security & the Border

In 1996, Canada and the United States implemented a comprehensive Shared Border Accord to deepen cooperation on border management issues. Since the September 11th attacks on the United States, Canada and the United States have accelerated those efforts to protect the security and enhance the prosperity of their citizens. The two governments continue to expand threat information sharing, upgrade their crisis response abilities and ensure that the Canada-U.S. border remains secure with an efficient flow of trade. The 30-point Smart Border Action Plan, enacted in December 2001, takes aggressive steps toward building a smart border for the 21st century - a border open for business but closed to terrorists.

For more information on Canada's trade with Oklahoma, please contact:
Consulate General of Canada
St. Paul Place
750 North St. Paul Street, Suite 1700
Dallas, TX 75201
Tel: (214) 922-9806
Fax: (214) 922-9815
www.dallas.gc.ca

All figures are for 2002 and are in US dollars. Merchandise trade and tourism figures are from Statistics Canada, converted at the rate of US$1.00=C$1.5704. Canada's export ranking is from the Massachusetts Institute for Social and Economic Research (MISER). Figures may not add up due to rounding.

• Read the 2002 state trade figures