WASHINGTON — Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners Canada and Mexico was 28 percent lower in July 2009 than in July 2008, dropping to $51.5 billion in the seventh consecutive month with a year-to-year decline of greater than 27 percent, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Surface transportation consists largely of freight movements by truck, rail and pipeline. About 88 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moves on land.

U.S.–Mexico surface transportation trade totaled $20.5 billion in July, down 17.1 percent compared to July 2008. The value of imports carried by truck was 13.7 percent lower in July 2009 than July 2008 while the value of exports carried by truck was 14.7 percent lower.

Texas led all states in surface trade with Mexico in July with $7.3 billion.