The US Census Bureau and US Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the US Department of Commerce announced Thursday that total April exports of $175.6 billion and imports of $219.2 billion resulted in a good and services deficit of $43.7 billion in the US, down 6.6 percent from the $46.8 billion trade deficit recorded in March. April exports were $2.2 billion more than March and April imports were $1 billion less than March imports. April saw record exports of both goods ($126.4 billion) and services ($49.1 billion), and the highest export values of industrial supplies ($43.4 billion) and capital goods ($41 billion) on record according to the US Department of Commerce.
In Canada however, the trade deficit widened from C$417 million (US$428 million) in March to C$924 million (US$949 million) in April to reach a six-month high, according to Statistics Canada. Exports fell 1.9 percent to C$36.3 billion (US$37.3 million), led by declines in machinery exports; imports fell as well, dropping 0.6 percent to C$37.2 billion (US$38.2 million) due to fewer automotive imports. Canada's automotive imports sank 21.9 percent in due to disruptions in production from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.