Home Trade and Investment State Trade Fact Sheets 2003 South Carolina 2003

South Carolina 2003

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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. 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.

Canada was the Palmetto State's best customer once again. In 2002, the trade relationship between South Carolina and Canada was worth over $3.9 billion. Canada purchased 25% of the state's total exports, worth $2.2 billion, and sold over $1.7 billion of its products to South Carolina. The exchange provided consumers and industries with vital products and supported thousands of jobs on both sides of the border.

Transportation trade flowed across the border. Transportation was the state's leading export sector, with $771 million worth crossing into Canada. With sales of over $294 million, motor vehicle parts (excluding engines) were the state's largest single export. Other leading transportation exports included automobiles, worth $156 million, and $76 million in motor vehicle engine parts. Transportation was also the state's leading import sector. Canada sold over $615 million in transportation products to South Carolina, which included $110 million in motor vehicle parts (also excluding engines).

South Carolina's textiles help satisfy Canadian fabric needs... The state's textile industries were a major part of South Carolina-Canada trade with sales of $293 million in 2002. Yarn and thread accounted for $63 million and man-made woven fabrics for another $39 million.

The Palmetto State exports a variety of products. The state's other exports to Canada included $67 million in unshaped plastics, $57 million in valves, $54 million in house furnishings, $49 million in air conditioning and refrigeration equipment and $17 million in precious metals and alloys.

Canada and South Carolina have chemistry. Among Canada's leading product sectors was $168 million in chemicals. Leading sales in this sector were $65 million in synthetic rubber and plastics, $53 million in basic plastic shapes and forms and $16 million in organic chemicals.

South Carolina's industries are run on Canadian raw materials. The state's forest product imports accounted for $146 million. Softwood lumber imports reached $47 million, with another $42 million in wood pulp and $18 million in newsprint. Metal imports worth $153 million included $68 million in basic metal products and $10 million in aluminum, including alloys.

Canada's imports were as varied as its exports. Canada also supplied machinery to South Carolina worth over $117 million. Included were $24 million in metalworking machinery and $10 million in plastics industrial machines and equipment. Other leading imports from Canada included $102 million in yarn and thread, $43 million in containers and $27 million worth of meat.

Tourism increases the value of the exchange. In 2002, Canadians paid nearly 341,000 visits to South Carolina and spent over $118 million. Residents of the Palmetto State made nearly 61,000 visits and spent $28 million in Canada.

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 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 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