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Since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) took effect a decade ago, trade using surface transportation between the United States and Canada and Mexico has increased more than 80 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). Since September 2001, surface transportation trade has risen about 30 percent.

Surface transportation comprises freight movements by rail, truck, pipeline and other modes. About 90 percent of U.S. trade with Canada and Mexico moves by surface transportation modes.

In September, total surface transportation trade reached $54.9 billion, a 57.3 percent increase compared with September 1994, 12.4 percent rise compared with September 2003 and 2.5 percent increase compared with August 2004.

U.S.-Canada surface transportation trade totaling $35.4 billion in September rose 12.5 percent compared with September 2003, BTS said. Rail imports and exports totaled $5 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively, compared with $4.4 billion and $1.2 billion in September 2003.

U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade totaling $19.5 billion in September rose 12.1 percent compared with September 2003. Rail imports and exports totaled $1.8 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively, compared with $1.65 billion and $1 billion in September 2003.