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Investing.com -- Statistics Canada announced Friday it will delay the release of international merchandise trade data for September 2025 due to the ongoing US government shutdown.
The report, originally scheduled for November 4, cannot be published until the US Census Bureau resumes normal operations and both countries agree on a new release date.
The delay stems from a data-sharing agreement in place since 1990, where Canada and the United States exchange merchandise import data to compile each other’s export statistics. This arrangement, which involves customs and statistical agencies from both nations, ensures data quality while reducing administrative burdens on exporting companies.
The partial US federal government shutdown that began October 1 has suspended operations at several agencies, including the Census Bureau, which compiles international trade statistics. Without data on Canada’s exports to the United States, Statistics Canada cannot complete its trade report.
The international trade in services data for September 2025, also scheduled for November 4, will be delayed for the same reason.
This disruption could affect other quarterly macroeconomic indicators that use trade data as inputs, including the quarterly balance of international payments and gross domestic product by expenditure for the third quarter of 2025. If September trade data remains unavailable when these statistics are compiled, Statistics Canada will produce special estimates of Canadian exports to the United States, which would be subject to larger than normal revisions once actual data becomes available.
The monthly GDP by industry and quarterly GDP by income reports are not directly affected by the shutdown.
A similar situation occurred in December 2018, when a 35-day US government shutdown postponed the release of trade statistics and required rescheduling of subsequent reports.
Statistics Canada is monitoring the situation and considering alternative options if the shutdown continues for an extended period.
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