SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
CANADA TRADE AND LOGISTICS
Long considered a key trade market due to its shipper-friendly logistics environment and reliable supply chain, Canada has consistently been one of the United States’ top two trade partners and is a top export market for approximately 36 US states. Canada also benefits from comprehensive free trade agreements with all fellow G7 member countries, as well as a diversified industrial base.
The US – Canada trade corridor offers a unique structure that features dense manufacturing and population hubs on both sides of the border, deeply integrated industrial supply chains, and well-established border crossings that support efficient, high-volume trade. From an operational standpoint, Canada also offers clear carrier advantages that combine local scale with true crossborder capabilities.
“ Canada is one of the United States’ most important trading partners, reflecting the deep and long-standing economic relationship between the two countries,” said Tim Staroba, president of the East division at lessthan-truckload carrier XPO.“ Billions of dollars in goods cross the US – Canada border every day, driven by critical industries such as automotive, machinery, energy and agriculture.”
The introduction of tariffs on Canadian goods, however, has added a layer of uncertainty across trucking, rail, warehousing and the overall supply chain. These tariffs increase costs and affect sourcing decisions, create volume volatility as shippers expedite or delay orders, and accelerate compliance demands at the border, Staroba noted. The highly integrated aspect of US – Canada trade, with many Canadian exports used by American businesses in their own production processes, creates further complexity.
“ Our system, our supply chain for moving things to the coast— particularly the West Coast— is fairly well established and has served us, historically, really well. So as we’ ve engaged in the conversation around tariffs, what we do well needs to be amplified. What we’ ve done historically to access international markets, we need to scale up to mitigate the impact of tariffs,” said Peter Xotta, president and CEO of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
Tariffs require flexibility
Despite the uncertainty around US import tariffs, most forecasts point to modest Canadian economic growth in 2026. Transportation and logistics companies are focusing on moving through any disruptions, and strengthening non-US partnerships is of paramount importance.
“ Leading economic institutions anticipate that renewed momentum will be supported by trade diversification and the strengthening of international commercial ties,” said Julie Gascon, president and CEO of the Port of Montreal.“ After all, the government of Canada wants to double non-US exports in the next decade.”
Forecasts point to modest Canadian economic growth in 2026 despite uncertainty around US tariffs. www. joc. com February 2, 2026 | Journal of Commerce 35