Canada's Economy

Low yield

Two pages, lightly tested. Three industry types and the U.S. trading relationship.

Guide pages 42–43

A trading nation

1988 — Canada enacted free trade with the United States. Mexico became a partner in 1994 under NAFTA.
Canada has one of the ten largest economies in the world and is part of the G8, with the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Japan and Russia.
Canada's largest international trading partner is the United States, and each is the other's largest trading partner.
Over three-quarters of Canadian exports are destined for the U.S.A. — the biggest bilateral trading relationship in the world.
The Canada-U.S. border is traditionally known as “the world's longest undefended border.”
The Peace Arch at Blaine, Washington is inscribed “children of a common mother.”

Service industries — transportation, education, health care, construction, banking, communications, retail, tourism and government. More than 75% of working Canadians have jobs in service industries.
Manufacturing industries — paper, high technology equipment, aerospace technology, automobiles, machinery, food and clothing.
Natural resources industries — forestry, fishing, agriculture, mining and energy. A large percentage of Canada's exports are natural resource commodities.