Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American neighbors, Canada and Mexico, was 11.6 percent higher in December 2011 than in December 2010, totaling $74.2bn, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the December 2011 value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico, the United States' North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners, rose 27.0 percent in the past two years from December 2009, and 40.3 percent from December 2008.

The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in December increased by 25.7 percent when compared to December 2006, and also increased by 94.1 percent when compared to December 2001, a period of 10 years. Imports in December were up 85.7 percent since December 2001, while exports were up 105.2 percent. Values expressed here are not adjusted for inflation.

Surface transportation includes freight movements by truck, rail, pipeline, mail and foreign trade zones. In December, 85.5 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved via land, 10.0 percent moved by vessel, and 4.5 percent moved by air.

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