CANADA’S TRADE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 255, 24 July 1937, Page 2 (Supplement)

CANADA’S TRADE

Remarkable Recovery FIFTH IN THE WORLD Canada regained fifth position among the trading nations of the world in 1936, it was announced by the Canadian Trade Minister, Mr. Euler, recently. With a total trade of 1,638,000,000 dollars, Canada fell in behind Great Britain, United States, Germany and France.

It was nothing new for Canada to stand fifth among the world nations, that position being occupied from 1926 to 1930 and in 1932. Canada dropped to seventh place in 1931, was eighth in 1933 and sixth in 1934 and 1935. The feature of Canada regaining fifth position has been the increase of exports. In export trade in 1936, Canada stood fourth, ahead of France; but in total trade France went ahead ..of Canada. The following is the order of the first 12 countries in total trade: Great Britain, United States, Germany, France, Canada, Japan, Belgium, Netherlands, India, South Africa, Australia and Argentina. Canada’s trade showed a greater recovery during 1936 than world trade generally. Canadian exports totalling 1,027,902,000 dollars were 22.6 per cent, higher than in 1935, while the total exports of 24 leading trading nations, including Canada, were 15,235,190,000 dollars, an increase of only 6 per cent. Canadian imports totalled 635,191,000 dollars, an increase of 15 per cent, over the previous year, while the total imports of the 24 leading nations were 17,031,515,000 dollars, an increase of 10.2 per cent, over 1935. Despite the decline in prices in recent years Canada’s total trade reached

the highest level since 1930, but it was still 1,000,600,000 dollars short of the record high level which the year 1920 produced and which was almost equalled in 1928.

Increases noted over 1935 were due chiefly to increases in the quantity of exports and imports and only to a small extent to increases in price levels. Thus Canada's total imports rose in value from 550,315.000 dollars in 1935 to 635,191,000 dollars in 1936. But revalued at 1935 prices the 1936 imports would have totalled 626,453.000 dollars.

Like imports, total exports increased both in volume aud value. The rise was from 825,284,000 dollars to 1,015,205,000 dollars, and based on 1935 values the latter figure would have been 967,110,000 dollars.