Tuesday, April 5, 2005

Culture from China

CANADA'S trade deficit in culture goods widened for the fourth consecutive year in 2003, thanks in part to a surge in imported goods from China.

China became the second biggest exporter of culture goods to Canada in 2003, displacing the United Kingdom and France.

In total, Canada exported $2.5 billion worth of culture goods in 2003, up less than 0.5% from 2002, the slowest rate of growth in eight years. However, imports of culture goods rose 2.9% to $4.5 billion.

As a result, the nation's deficit in culture trade widened from $1.8 billion to $2.0 billion. However, this was still well below the most recent high in 1997.

On-going deficit

The main reason for the persistent overall trade deficit was the on-going deficit with top trading partners such as the United States, China, United Kingdom and France.

Canada’s trade deficit with China has increased rapidly. In 2003, Canada’s imports from China exceeded our exports by $293.6 million, nearly four times the gap in 1996.

In 1996, China represented only 2.5% of all culture goods imported into Canada. By 2003, this proportion had more than doubled to 6.7%.

The biggest sub-sector of trade in culture goods was written and published works, which accounted for more than one-third of exports and nearly two-thirds of imports in 2003.

The United States continued to dominate Canada's international market for culture goods. In 2003, it accounted for 93% of Canada’s exports, but only 78% of imports.

For more information, contact Vik Singh (613-951-5666), Culture Sub-division.

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© 2004, 2005 Statistics Canada.