Trade tidbits: Where Canada does business

On Friday, Canada signed an agreement in principle with the European Union for free trade. Here are some facts:

TRADE WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION 2012

Canadian exports:

$38.7 billion

Canadian imports:

$50.6 billion

TRADE WITH UNITED STATES IN 2012

Canadian exports:

$338 billion

Canadian imports:

$233 billion Trade with China in 2012 Canadian exports:

$19.3 billion

Canadian imports:

$50.7 billion

WHERE CANADIAN GOODS WENT IN 2011 (LAST YEAR FOR WHICH FIGURES ARE AVAILABLE)

United States: 73.7 per cent of all our exports U.K.: 14.8 per cent

China: 3.8 per cent

COUNTRIES FROM WHICH CANADA IMPORTED MOST IN 2011

United States: 49.5 per cent of all imports China: 10.8 per cent Mexico: 5.5 per cent Source: Foreign Affairs and International Trade; State of Trade 2012. The Canada-EU deal will make it easier for trade, investment and labour mobility. It will allow:

more Canadian meat to Europe

more wheat and canola oil to Europe

lower tariffs on Canadian lumber and forestry products cheaper cars from Europe more cheese into Canada greater access to government procurement contracts for Europeans