Disseminating Trade in Goods and Services in Canada

Global Form on Trade Statisitcs

February 4, 2011

Outline Institutional Overview Integration as a Goal Trade in Goods Trade in Services Conclusion

Institutional Overview Centralized statistical system

• Central Bank has limited statistical activities Long standing legal and agreements support

use of administrative data• Customs likely the longest standing arrangement

Trade data involves a number of different organizational units within Statistics Canada

Integration as a Goal Multiple organizational units but common data BoP/SNA as foundation of integration Internal agreements and operational processes Explicit and well established processes Senior management commitment to common

processes and data

International Trade Division• Two separate presentations monthly

BoP basis is ‘head line’ release Merchandise trade data more detail

Balance of Payments Division• BoP accounts released quarterly

Agreement to have (ultimately) the same data on BOP basis

• Same data goes into quarterly National Accounts Monthly and quarterly production involves both divisions

Both programs areas do some (but not the same) adjustments to move merchandise trade data to BoP basis

Trade in Goods

Trade in Services BoP Division Program

• Quarterly program Part of full BoP - released one day ahead of NA

• Annual program Separate release

Data from BoP surveys or administrative sources

• Travel component is an exception

Trade in Services

International Travel Survey• Separate program with domestic travel survey• Counts of travelers monthly

Administrative source

• Expenditure estimates quarterly Same values as used for BoP/NA Published 1-2 days before BoP

Trade in Services Separate Annual Trade in Services Publication

More detailed commodity information Spit between affiliate and non-affiliated trade Large number of partner countries for aggregate

Recent Improvements• Expanded program of service industry surveys

Trigger questions and occasional modules

• Improvements to the Business Register allow program specific characteristics

Conclusion

Integrated data well appreciated by users Need agreements that are clear and

operationally efficient It takes commitment and work

• Senior management and staff