Services Trade

Total Services

Canada experienced a deficit in services trade with Asia in 2008, mainly the result of services imports from Japan, Hong Kong and China, Canada’s top Asian partners in services trade. In many other – though smaller – markets, Canada ran bilateral surpluses.  In 2008, receipts from Japan made up about 18% of Canada’s receipts from Asia. Reciprocally, Canada purchased 16% of its Asian services from Japan, a decrease from the level in 2007. Canada experienced significant positive balances with Australia and South Korea. Data in recent years show slight increases in year-to-year international services transactions between Canada and Asia until 2003, when receipts from Asia and payments to Asia both declined. In 2004, this decline was reversed as both categories increased significantly: receipts from Asia by 16% and payments to Asia by 12%. In 2008, both receipts and increased.  Canada-Asia services trade is still relatively small when compared to merchandise trade.

Source: Adapted from Statistics Canada, National Accounts 376-0036 http://cansim2.statcan.ca/cgi-win/cnsmcgi.pgm?Lang=E&RootDir=CII/&ARRAY_VREL=3760036&PortalID=3764&ResultTemplate=V3764 October 11, 2011.

Statistics Canada information is used with the permission of Statistics Canada. Users are forbidden to copy this material and/or re-disseminate the data, in an original or modified form, for commercial purposes, without the expressed permission of Statistics Canada. Information on the availability of the range of data from Statistics Canada can be obtained from Statistics Canada’s Regional Offices, its toll-free number 1-800-263-1136 and its website: www.statcan.ca.

Travel Services

Canada experienced a surplus in travel services trade with Asia in 2008. China is our top Asian partner in travel services trade – in 2008, receipts from China accounted for 18% of Canada’s receipts from Asia while Canada purchased 25% of its Asian travel services from China. Of note is Canada’s travel services trade relationship with South Korea: in 2008, Canada exported almost four times the value of travel services as it imported, primarily due to South Korean students attending short-term courses in Canada. Canada also experienced healthy surpluses with Japan, Hong Kong and Australia.

Source: Adapted from Statistics Canada, National Accounts 376-0036 http://cansim2.statcan.ca/cgi-win/cnsmcgi.pgm?Lang=E&RootDir=CII/&ARRAY_VREL=3760036&PortalID=3764&ResultTemplate=V3764 October 11, 2011.

Statistics Canada information is used with the permission of Statistics Canada. Users are forbidden to copy this material and/or re-disseminate the data, in an original or modified form, for commercial purposes, without the expressed permission of Statistics Canada. Information on the availability of the range of data from Statistics Canada can be obtained from Statistics Canada’s Regional Offices, its toll-free number 1-800-263-1136 and its website: www.statcan.ca.

Commercial Services

Canada experienced a deficit in commercial services trade with Asia in 2008 due to the magnitude of the negative balance with Japan, which is once again our top Asian partner in commercial services trade. In 2008, Japan accounted for 17% of Canada’s receipts from Asia while Canada purchased over 34% of its Asian commercial services from Japan. Of note is Canada’s commercial services trade relationship with Indonesia: in 2007, Canada exported about 10 times as many services as it imported. Canada also experienced a healthy surplus with Australia, South Korea and New Zealand. Other than Japan, Canada experienced negative balances with six other economies.

Source: Adapted from Statistics Canada, National Accounts 376-0036 http://cansim2.statcan.ca/cgi-win/cnsmcgi.pgm?Lang=E&RootDir=CII/&ARRAY_VREL=3760036&PortalID=3764&ResultTemplate=V3764 October 11, 2011.

Statistics Canada information is used with the permission of Statistics Canada. Users are forbidden to copy this material and/or re-disseminate the data, in an original or modified form, for commercial purposes, without the expressed permission of Statistics Canada. Information on the availability of the range of data from Statistics Canada can be obtained from Statistics Canada’s Regional Offices, its toll-free number 1-800-263-1136 and its website: www.statcan.ca.

Transportation and Government Services

Canada experienced a substantial deficit in transportation and government services trade with Asia in 2008. Hong Kong is our top Asian partner in transportation and government services trade, accounting for 18% of Canada’s receipts from Asia while providing 37% of Canada’s transportation and government services imports from Asia. This is largely accounted for by transportation services. Japan is also prominent in this category, accounting for 22% of Canada’s receipts from Asia and providing about 11% of Canada’s transportation and government services imports from Asia. Canada also experienced significant negative balance with Singapore.

Source: Adapted from Statistics Canada, National Accounts 376-0036 http://cansim2.statcan.ca/cgi-win/cnsmcgi.pgm?Lang=E&RootDir=CII/&ARRAY_VREL=3760036&PortalID=3764&ResultTemplate=V3764 October 11, 2011.

Statistics Canada information is used with the permission of Statistics Canada. Users are forbidden to copy this material and/or re-disseminate the data, in an original or modified form, for commercial purposes, without the expressed permission of Statistics Canada. Information on the availability of the range of data from Statistics Canada can be obtained from Statistics Canada’s Regional Offices, its toll-free number 1-800-263-1136 and its website: www.statcan.ca.