OTTAWA, June 9 (UPI) -- Canada's international trade deficit widened in April after both imports and exports declined, Statistics Canada reported Thursday from Ottawa.
The agency said the country's trade deficit with the rest of the world widened from $417 million in March to $924 million in April.
"Exports decreased to $36.3 billion in April, as volumes declined 1.1 percent and prices fell 0.9 percent," StatsCan said. "Imports fell to $37.2 billion, as prices declined 1.5 percent and volumes rose 1 percent."
Among the decliners in exports was the machinery and equipment sector, particularly the automotive sub-sector, impacted by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March. There was also a 38.5 percent export decline in the aircraft and other transportation equipment sub-sector, the report said.
The same Japanese factor also affected imports.
"Imports of passenger autos and chassis fell 21.9 percent to $1.6 billion," in April, the report said. "Motor vehicle parts also contributed to the decline in the sector, falling 7.3 percent to $2.4 billion."
