While the notion of global trade may conjure thoughts of air and sea freight crossing oceans and hemispheres, the simple fact is that for U.S. manufacturers, two of the surest international export/import partners can be found only a drive away from some of our very own border cities. Today, U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico trade relationships rank among the strongest in the world. Just consider the numbers: Combined exports to both countries were nearly $600 billion annually at last official count in 2012. Canada ranks as our largest goods trading partner with imports and exports totaling $632 billion per year, and Mexico is not far behind at $507 billion.
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They also understand in a very general way that global trade makes sense in today's technology-driven, e-commerce-centered environment-and in an era where more than 70% of the world's purchasing power resides outside of the U.S. Even so, many small and medium-sized businesses have yet to go global, in part because the task of conducting business in a new country-even one just next door-under new rules, and with new logistics demands, seems daunting.
To get a plan off the ground, and to take advantage of the robust North American marketplace, it is critical for companies to understand why this marketplace works so well, and how they can make it work even better to meet their specific goals.
Benefits of Trade with Canada and