Canada trade

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma) — Canada’s merchandise trade deficit widened significantly to C$3.65 billion in January 2026, far exceeding the C$900 million gap analysts had forecasted. According to data released by Statistics Canada on Thursday, March 12, the deficit nearly tripled from December’s revised C$1.3 billion, marking the largest percentage decline in exports in nearly a year. The primary driver behind the widening gap was a sharp 21.2% plunge in the export of motor vehicles and parts, which hit its lowest level since September 2021. Officials attributed the decline to "prolonged seasonal production stoppages" as Canadian plants underwent extensive retooling for…