• Canada–U.S. trade supported 7.1 million U.S. jobs
• Total Canada–U.S. merchandise trade: $535 billion
• 17,500 Vermont jobs are supported by Canada–U.S. trade
• Canada is Vermont’s largest foreign export market
• Canadians made more than 765,900 visits to Vermont, spending $148 million
• Vermont residents made 148,200 visits to Canada, spending $56 million

A Close Relationship

Canada and Vermont enjoyed another year of profitable trade in 2007. Canada was the state’s most valuable foreign market, purchasing almost 40% of the state’s worldwide goods. In fact, the state sold more merchandise to its northern neighbor than to its next five foreign export markets combined. Bilateral trade flows reached $4.3 billion, as nearly $12 million in merchandise crossed the border on a typical day.

Well-equipped partners

Equipment represented the state’s leading export and import sectors to Canada in 2007, with state sales surpassing $748 million. The Green Mountain State shipped a variety of goods northbound, including electronic tubes and semi-conductors ($716 million), electrical property measuring instruments ($4 million) and electrical lighting and lamps ($2 million). The state also purchased $801 million worth of equipment, including office machines ($97 million) and heating and refrigeration equipment ($8 million).

The perfect state nickname

The Green Mountain State sent $96 million in forest products north of the border in 2007. Shipments of crude wood materials accounted for $35 million; while paper and paperboard, and lumber totaled $25 million and $21 million respectively. In turn, the state drew on Canada’s bountiful forest resources, importing $123 million worth led by softwood lumber, wood pulp and newsprint.

Nature’s abundance

In 2007, the two partners exchanged $336 million in agricultural products. Vermont supplied its northern neighbor with $51 million in a variety of foods — dairy produce, eggs, honey, sugars, live animals, and seafood. Canada reciprocated with food shipments valued at $285 million. Leading commodities included sugars, oil seed cake and meal, cereals, vegetables, meat, and more.

Sweet treats, skiing and more

Vermont’s rolling mountains, crystal clear lakes and picturesque towns offer tourists plenty of opportunity to enjoy themselves. Whether it was skiing, leaf-peeping, or a tour of the Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory, Canadians made 765,900 visits to the Green Mountain State in 2007, spending over $148 million. Vermonters also made many visits to Canada, with 148,200 visits to its northern neighbor spending $56 million.

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Canada–Vermont Success Stories

With support from the Vermont Economic Development Authority, Biocardel Vermont LLC, owned and operated by Biocardel Inc. and Guilmax Inc. of Quebec, opened a biodiesel plant in Swanton, VT in March 2007. Biocardel Vermont hopes to produce four million gallons of biodiesel in their first year of commercial production, made from soybean oil imported from Canada. This is the largest production facility of its kind in New England, and one of only 65 commercial biodiesel plants in the United States.

In March 2007, Quebec-based Gaz Métro Limited Partnership acquired Green Mountain Power Corporation, the second-largest electricity distributor in Vermont, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Northern New England Energy Corporation (NNEEC). The NNEEC, made up of two other local power companies — Portland Natural Gas and Vermont Gas Systems — serves over 162,000 customers. As the latest addition to this group, Green Mountain Power has its headquarters in Colchester, Vermont and employs 192 people, making Gaz Métro the supporter of over 300 employees in Vermont alone.

Canada’s top dairy producer, Saputo Inc., is also one of the top ten Canadian employers in Vermont, employing close to 100 in their dairy processing plant in Hinesburg.

Mont Saint-Sauveur Inc., a consortium of ski resorts and mountains in Quebec acquired Jay Peak of Jay, Vermont in 1978 and quickly made it one of the top ski destinations in New England. In 2007, TripAdvisor named Jay Peak Ski and Summer Resort the best “overlooked and under budget” ski destination in the U.S. The resort continues to grow and thrive, enjoying a 7% increase in skier visits during the 2006–2007 winter season.

June 2008

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Tourism

• 765,900 Vermont visits by Canadians, $148 million spent
• 148,200 Vermont visits to Canada, $56 million spent

Jobs

• Vermont jobs supported by Canada–U.S. trade: 17,500

Merchandise Trade

• Exports to Canada: $1.2 billion
• Imports from Canada: $3.1 billion
• Bilateral trade: $4.3 billion
• Largest export market: Canada

PDF Format

For more information on Canada’s trade with Vermont, please contact:

Consulate General of Canada
Three Copley Place, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02216
Phone: (617) 262-3760   •  Fax: (617) 262-3415

Merchandise trade and tourism figures are from Statistics Canada, converted at the rate of US$1.00=C$1.0749. Merchandise trade is based on total exports and imports for the year 2007. Job numbers are based on 2005 data from a 2006 study commissioned by the Canadian Embassy. Canada’s export ranking is from the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research (WISER). All figures are in U.S. dollars. Figures may not add up due to rounding.