The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) has released a policy position paper based on the premise that “strengthening freight rail capacity, port connectivity, regulatory efficiency, labor stability and private-sector investment will be critical if Canada wants to remain competitive and move more goods to global markets”—other than USMCA trading partner United States. “With Canada looking to reduce its economic reliance on the U.S. and double exports to other markets over the next decade, this paper examines what that goal will require from a transportation and trade infrastructure perspective,” RAC told Railway Age. Photo courtesy CPKC Key Takeaways “This document (download below) outlines Canada’s strategy and policy measures to diversify and significantly increase its exports over the next decade,” RAC noted. “Canada aims to double its non-U.S. exports within a decade to enhance economic resilience amid strained U.S. trade relations.” The target is to increase annual Canadian exports from approximately C$300 billion in 2024 to C$600 billion, with a focus on goods and services in nominal value. Recent growth was a 71% increase from 2014-2024, driven mainly by services, which rose 138%. Inflation contributed to growth, as export prices rose by about 40% between 2020 and 2022. Actual growth, adjusted for inflation, was 28% from 2014 to 2024, with services increasing by 81% and goods by 9%. In 2025, merchandise exports to non-U.S. markets increased by 17%, offsetting a 6% decline to the U.S. “Canada’s vast geography necessitates efficient transport networks to support export growth,” RAC said. “Resources are dispersed across…
