ClaimOutcome
Canada's export diversification so far is more than half gold, and most of the rest is raw materials. Statistics Canada's headline figure, which includes gold, put the US share of goods exports at 69.8% in August 2026, up from 66.1% in July (balance-of-payments basis, seasonally adjusted). Leaving out gold sent to the UK, our calculation from customs data puts the US share at 79.1% in January-August 2024 and 74.6% in January-August 2026, and it has stayed around 74-75% in most months since April 2025 (monthly range about 72-78%). Of the rise in non-US exports between those two periods, about 52% is gold sent to the UK, and about two-thirds of the rest is raw materials. These are values, not volumes, and they say nothing about Washington's intent.
The evidence it rests on
Supports (4)
- Statistics Canada: exports to countries other than the US reach a record C$25.6 billion in July 2026, 33.7% of Canada's exports
Headline record non-US share, inflated by gold.
Documented by: Statistics Canada, “Statistics Canada Table 12-10-0175: Domestic exports and re-exports by NAPCS section and principal trading partner, monthly” (external site). and 1 more
- Statistics Canada: the US share of Canada's goods exports fell to 71.7% in 2025, from 75.9% in 2024
Annual US share fell on a BOP basis.
Documented by: Statistics Canada, “Statistics Canada Table 12-10-0175: Domestic exports and re-exports by NAPCS section and principal trading partner, monthly” (external site). and 1 more
Source of 79.1% -> 74.6% (January-August 2024 and 2026): our calculation from StatCan table 12-10-0175, excluding metal products (gold) sent to the UK.
“Domestic exports plus re-exports, customs basis, Canada: US share of all goods exports 76.3% (2024), 72.3% (2025); 76.8% (Jan-Aug 2024), 68.6% (Jan-Aug 2026). Excluding NAPCS C14 'Metal and non-metallic mineral products' to the United Kingdom (almost all unwrought gold): 78.6% (2024), 76.3% (2025); 79.1% (Jan-Aug 2024), 74.6% (Jan-Aug 2026). Monthly, excluding UK C14, April 2025 to August 2026: 71.9% to 77.7%, 74-75% in 11 of 17 months. Jan-Aug 2024 to Jan-Aug 2026: non-US exports rose C$59.5 billion, of which UK C14 C$31.2 billion (52%); of the rest, the raw/resource group is 65.7%.”
From Statistics Canada: Statistics Canada Table 12-10-0175: Domestic exports and re-exports by NAPCS section and principal trading partner, monthly, Our calculation from Statistics Canada table 12-10-0175 (data to August 2026), comparing January to August of each year
- Statistics Canada: exports to the US rebound 8.1% in August 2026 and take 69.8% of Canada's exports, after a revised 66.1% in July
Headline US share 69.8% in August, 66.1% in July (revised), balance-of-payments basis, gold included; the agency points to front-loading before new US tariffs and gold coins sent to the US.
Documented by: Statistics Canada, “The Daily: Canadian international merchandise trade, August 2026” (external site), .
Complicates (1)
- Canada Energy Regulator: Trans Mountain carried an average of 761,000 barrels a day in 2025, up 37% from 2024
Trans Mountain volumes rose 37% in 2025 and exports from its coast terminal surged, particularly heavy crude bound for Asia and the US West Coast (Canada Energy Regulator): part of the shift away from the US is real in volume, not just value, on a pipeline expanded before the tariffs.
Documented by: Canada Energy Regulator, “Market Snapshot: Oil pipeline throughputs remained high in 2025” (external site), .
Context (2)
- US and Israeli strikes on Iran begin on 28 February 2026; shipping through the Strait of Hormuz largely stops and Brent passes US$100 on 12 March
The oil price jump from March 2026 raises the value of Canada's raw-material exports whatever happens to volumes, which inflates the raw share of non-US export growth.
Documented by: US Energy Information Administration, “Crude oil and petroleum product prices increased sharply in the first quarter of 2026 (Today in Energy)” (external site), . and 1 more
- Quebec copper wire exports shift away from the US after the 50% copper tariff: 99.3% US-bound in Jan-Jul 2025, 8.6% in Jan-Jul 2026
Quebec copper wire went from 99% US-bound to under 9% after the 50% copper tariff, and now goes mainly to Honduras, France and Morocco: a small diversification in a processed good.
Documented by: Federal Register (Executive Office of the President), “Proclamation 10962: Adjusting Imports of Copper Into the United States” (external site), . and 1 more
Corrections to this claim
Update: Statistics Canada's August 2026 trade release (6 October 2026). The claim now names its measure next to the headline share (Table 12-10-0011: balance-of-payments basis, seasonally adjusted, gold included) and compares the same months, January to August 2024 and 2026, from Table 12-10-0175 (customs basis, gold sent to the UK excluded).
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Canada's export diversification so far is mostly gold, and most of the rest is raw materials. Leaving out gold sent to the UK, the US share of goods exports fell from 78.6% (2024) to 74.4% (January-July 2026) and has hovered around 74-75% since April 2025 (monthly range about 72-78%); about 65% of the remaining rise in non-US exports is raw materials. These are values, not volumes, and they say nothing about Washington's intent.nowCanada's export diversification so far is more than half gold, and most of the rest is raw materials. Statistics Canada's headline figure, which includes gold, put the US share of goods exports at 69.8% in August 2026, up from 66.1% in July (balance-of-payments basis, seasonally adjusted). Leaving out gold sent to the UK, our calculation from customs data puts the US share at 79.1% in January-August 2024 and 74.6% in January-August 2026, and it has stayed around 74-75% in most months since April 2025 (monthly range about 72-78%). Of the rise in non-US exports between those two periods, about 52% is gold sent to the UK, and about two-thirds of the rest is raw materials. These are values, not volumes, and they say nothing about Washington's intent. - Text fr
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Jusqu'ici, la diversification des exportations du Canada, c'est surtout de l'or, et l'essentiel du reste, des matières premières. Si l'on exclut l'or envoyé au Royaume-Uni, la part des États-Unis dans les exportations de biens est passée de 78,6 % (2024) à 74,4 % (janvier à juillet 2026) et oscille autour de 74 à 75 % depuis avril 2025 (fourchette mensuelle d'environ 72 à 78 %); environ 65 % du reste de la hausse des exportations hors des États-Unis est constitué de matières premières. Ce sont des valeurs, pas des volumes, et elles ne disent rien de l'intention de Washington.nowJusqu'ici, la diversification des exportations du Canada, c'est d'abord de l'or (plus de la moitié), et l'essentiel du reste, des matières premières. Le chiffre principal de Statistique Canada, qui inclut l'or, situait la part des États-Unis dans les exportations de biens à 69,8 % en août 2026, contre 66,1 % en juillet (sur la base de la balance des paiements, données désaisonnalisées). Si l'on exclut l'or envoyé au Royaume-Uni, notre calcul à partir des données sur une base douanière situe cette part à 79,1 % de janvier à août 2024 et à 74,6 % de janvier à août 2026, et elle oscille autour de 74 à 75 % la plupart des mois depuis avril 2025 (fourchette mensuelle d'environ 72 à 78 %). De la hausse des exportations hors des États-Unis entre ces deux périodes, environ 52 % est de l'or envoyé au Royaume-Uni, et environ les deux tiers du reste sont des matières premières. Ce sont des valeurs, pas des volumes, et elles ne disent rien de l'intention de Washington.
Claims are weighed by the evidence under them, actions first. Method.