Canada’s trade deficit in August climbed to $1.31 billion as imports grew by 2.1% to set a new record and exports rose by 1.8%, Statistics Canada said on Tuesday…
Imports hit $41.08 billion in August on higher shipments of energy products, aircraft and motor vehicles as volumes rose 1.2% and prices increased by 0.9%. The previous high was the $40.89 billion recorded in April 2013.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced [on October 6, 2013] that Canada and Malaysia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will enhance security cooperation between the two countries and help address the threats of terrorism, human smuggling and organized crime in Southeast Asia and beyond.
The World Trade Organization announced Sept. 19 that its economists are now forecasting global trade growth of 2.5% in 2013, down from the 3.3% they projected in April, and 4.5% in 2014, down from 5.0%. Both would still be better than 2012, which saw trade growth fall to 2.0% from 5.2% in 2011.
With Prime Minister Stephen Harper and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso now handling negotiations directly, there is increasing confidence within the Conservative government that a trade agreement between Canada and the European Union will be in place before the end of the year.
