Trade Deficit Widened in January as Exports Dropped

Canada's merchandise trade deficit was smaller than economists forecast in January, as shipments of cars pushed exports higher for a third straight month.

United States exports and imports fell to their weakest levels in five years, reflecting the sluggishness in the global economy, falling oil prices and a strong dollar.

She holds a decline in imports (-2.2% at 176.4 billion) much faster than imports (-1.2% to 222.1 billion dollars), according to ministry data showing a general slowdown in trade ominous for the world's largest economy.

The Commerce Department said on Friday the trade gap increased 2.2 per cent to $45.7 billion. By contrast, US imports of cellphones, diamonds, and wine increased as a strong dollar made foreign products more affordable here.

Widepread increases in imported consumer goods were led by pharmaceutical and medicinal products, meat products, as well as clothing, footwear and accessories.

USA employers added a robust 242,000 workers in February as retailers, restaurants and health care providers drove another solid month for the resilient American job market. Petroleum exports also fell, touching their lowest level since September 2010. USA lawmakers have long criticized the Chinese government for keeping the yuan currency undervalued to gain an unfair trade advantage. Volumes expanded by 1.6 percent while prices fell 0.5 percent. Worker pay slipped last month after accelerating in January.

The goods trade gap with Canada, the number-two U.S. trade partner, rose slightly to $2.4 billion.

Imports climbed 1.1 percent to C$46.65 billion as nine of 11 sections increased. December's deficit was revised to $44.70 billion, from the previously estimated $43.36 billion. The US trade gap with Germany, Europe's powerhouse, fell to $4.5 billion, a two-year low.