Alaska Exports to Canada
Yearly Totals

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, State of Origin Data

Alaska Exports Markets
Full Year Totals
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, State of Origin Data

Alaska-Canada Overview

Highlights / Facts / International Trade Profile / Recent Events

Alaska and Canada have a healthy and active relationship. Canada has traditionally ranked a strong third among Alaska's export markets.

Canadian mining companies are the biggest investors in Alaska's mining industry. Alaska and Canada exchange delegations on a regular basis. If the proposed Alaska natural gas pipeline project is initiated along the Alaska Highway route through Canada, this is likely to have a major impact on the regional and cross-border business activity. Trade with Canada has occurred with relatively few obstacles or problems, but there have been some disputes centered around the use of natural resources in maritime and land border areas.

CANADA

Population: 31 million

Size: 3.8 million square miles (9.9 million sq. km.) – land and water. Second largest country in the world after Russia.

Government: Confederation, parliamentary democracy. Prime Minister: head of the government. Bicameral parliament: House of Commons and Senate. Constitutional monarchy with queen as head of state. Capital: Ottawa, Ontario.

Political Subdivisions: 10 provinces and three territories, each headed by a premier with unicameral legislative assemblies.

Economy/Trade: Diversified economy with large industrial sector and major resource developments and energy exports. Top trading partner: United States. Canada is Alaska’s third largest export market.

U.S.-Canadian Border: 5,525 miles (8,893 km), including Alaska-Canada border: 1,538 miles (2,477 km)

More Information

Canada – Links to almost everything Canadian!

Canadian Resource Page: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/Unofficial/Canadiana

Canadian Government

Canada: http://www.canada.gc.ca/main_e.html

Dept. of Foreign Affairs & International Trade: http://dfait-maeci.gc.ca/menu-e.asp

Canadian Embassy, Washington, D.C.: http://www.canadianembassy.org/homepage/index.html

Canadian Consulate, Seattle: http://www.canada-seattle.org

Canadian Provincial & Territorial Governments

http://www.canada.gc.ca/othergov/prov_e.html

U.S. Government – Canada sites

CIA World Fact Book: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ca.html

U.S. State Dept.: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/bgn/index.cfm?docid=2089

Canada – Country Commercial Guide: http://www.state.gov/www.about_state/business/com_guides
/2001/wha/canada_ccg2001.pdf

U.S. Embassy, Ottawa: http://www.usembassycanada.gov/content/index.asp

Consular Information Sheet: http://travel.state.gov/canada.html

FAQ – Canada

National Atlas of Canada: http://www.atlas.gc.ca/english/facts/faq.html

Economist – Country Report

http://www.economist.com/countries/Canada

Canada – Energy / Business / Trade

Canada Energy Information: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/canada.htm

Energy Council of Canada: http://www.energy.ca

Natural Resources Canada: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/es/main_e.htm

National Energy Board: http://www.neb-one.gc.ca/index.htm

Industry Canada: http://strategis.ic.gc/engdoc/main.html

Canada – America Border Trade Alliance: http://www.canambta.org

Pacific Northwest Economic Region: http://www.pnwer.org

Alaska – Canada Trade

Canadian Trade Commissioner Service: Market Report on Alaska-Canada trade: http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/docs/view-e.asp?did=5489&gid=547

Alaska Highway Natural Gas Pipeline Project

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/gasline

Canadian Policy Issues / Research

http://policyresearch.schoolnet/community/index-e.htm

Arctic Council

Links to Alaska, Canada and other related arctic sites, governments, organizations and projects: http://www.arctic-council.org

Education

University of Alaska Canadian Studies Program: http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/cdnst

Tourism / Travel

State of Alaska tourism site: http://www.dced.state.ak.us/tourism

Joint tourism campaign by Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon Territory and Prince Rupert: http://www.north-to-alaska.com

http://www.milepost.com

Tourism and lot more info: http://www.explorenorth.com

http://www.alaskainfo.org

Alaska State Ferry: http://www.dot.state.ak.us/external/amhs/home.html

http://www.travelalaska.com

Northern Studies Links

More links to sites on Alaska, northern Canada and arctic peoples, issues, resources and northern topics: http://www.yukoncollege.yk.ca/~agraham/nostbm.htm

Alaska – Canada Boundary: 1,538 miles (2,475 kilometers)
Alaska-Yukon Territory & Alaska-British Columbia boundaries are roughly equalTravel options and border crossings subject to seasonal variations. May-September tourist season offers greatest options for visitors. Cargo shipments go year-round.As a result of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the U.S., expect heightened security at border checkpoints, possible delays and document checks.

Key Alaska – Canada Travel/Tourism Information Links

http://www.explorenorth.com

http://www.dced.state.ak.us/tourism

http://travelalaska.com

http://www.north-to-alaska.com

http://www.milepost.com

The Alaska Highway linking Alaska to the Lower 48 states via Canada is open all year. The Alaska Highway, sometimes called the Alcan for Alaska-Canada Highway, officially starts at Milepost 0 at Dawson Creek, British Columbia, and goes through the Yukon Territory to Fairbanks. The highway was built in 1942 to meet military equipment needs and remains the only road linking Alaska to the Lower 48.

"The Milepost" is a comprehensive guidebook to driving the Alaska Highway through Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, the Yukon Territory and Alaska. http://www.milepost.com

"North! To Alaska" is a regional tourism marketing campaign – conducted by Alaska, British Columbia, Yukon Territory, Alberta and Prince Rupert – geared toward luring visitors to these regions with special emphasis on Alaska Highway travelers. http://www.north-to-alaska.com

Roads connect three southeast Alaska Panhandle communities, Haines, Skagway and Hyder, to Canada and the Alaska Hwy. A summer-only road connects Dawson, Y.T. with the Alaska Hwy via the Taylor Hwy. and Alaska towns of Eagle and Chicken.

Alaska state ferries carry passengers and vehicles between Bellingham, WA and Alaska via Prince Rupert, B.C., sailing the scenic Inside Passage route. Explore the Alaska Marine Highway System routes, schedules and fares at: http://www.dot.state.ak.us/external/amhs/index.html

Alaska is one of the most popular cruise ship destinations in the world. Many of these cruises begin or end in Vancouver, B.C.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air connect cities in Alaska and the western United States to Vancouver and Victoria, B.C. and to Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta. http://www.alaskaair.com

Air North has year-round scheduled passenger and cargo service linking Fairbanks and Juneau with three Yukon Territory cities: Dawson, Whitehorse and Old Crow and Inuvik, Northwest Territories. http://www.airnorth.yk.net

Canada 3000 Airlines flies Anchorage-Vancouver seasonally. http://www.canada3000.com

U.S., Canadian and other carriers provide passenger and cargo flights and charters linking Alaska, Canada, Asia and the Lower 48 states.

White Pass & Yukon Railroad offers tourist-oriented trips from Skagway into British Columbia with bus connections to Whitehorse, YT. The narrow-gauge RR built in the Klondike Gold Rush covers 110 miles over rugged mountain passes between Skagway and Whitehorse – 20 miles in Alaska, 32 miles in British Columbia and 58 miles in Yukon Territory. When the YT mining industry was more active, White Pass hauled ore to port in Skagway. YT mine closures prompted cutbacks in rail service. White Pass now offers seasonal scenic passenger trips to Bennett, B.C., with bus travel between Bennett and Whitehorse. http://www.whitepassrailroad.com

Several companies serve Anchorage, Fairbanks and Yukon Territory: Alaska Direct Bus Line, Alaskon Express and Parks Highway Express. Other companies offer tourism-oriented charters, sightseeing and tours between Alaska and Western Canada.

Freight / Cargo

Commercial cargo shipments by air, truck and sea available through numerous Alaska/U.S. and Canadian companies and freight forwarders.

Alternative border crossings – strictly for the hardy and adventuresome

• Chilkoot Trail: 33-mile trail, Skagway to Bennett, B.C. used in Klondike Gold Rush.

  U.S.: http://www.nps.gov/klgo/chilkoot.htm

  Canada: http://parkscan.harbour.com/ct/

• Yukon Quest: Annual 1,000-mile sled dog race between Fairbanks and Whitehorse.

  http://www.yukonquest.org

• Yukon River boat travel. Contact outfitter, adventure travel company or the Alaska Wilderness Recreation & Tourism Association:

  http://www.awrta.org

• Cross the border in the St. Elias Mountains. Alaska and Yukon Territory offer access to Mt. Logan climbing expeditions. Mt. Logan, Canada’s highest peak and second highest in North America, is in the extreme southwest corner of Yukon Territory.

Borders / Ports of Entry / Customs

Alaska – British Columbia

Skagway, Alaska – Fraser, B.C. / Klondike Highway

Hyder, Alaska – Stewart, B.C. / Stewart - Cassiar Highway

Haines – Haines Junction / Haines Highway - Alaska Highway

Alcan, Alaska – Beaver, Y.T. / Alaska Highway.

Poker Creek, Alaska – Little Gold Creek, Y.T. / Top of the World – Taylor Highway. Northernmost land border crossing in North America. Operates summer only.

Air & Sea

Official entry points and customs services exist at all locations that have Alaska-Canada flights and maritime vessel service.

Border Crossings

Alaska-Canada crossings are relatively simple and trouble-free. But these are international borders, and U.S. and Canadian immigration and customs laws apply. Travelers and cargo are subject to document checks and customs duties.

For an overview of what the average traveler can expect in crossing Alaska/U.S.-Canadian borders, go to:

http://www.themilepost.com/border.html

http://www.gonorthwest.com/visitor/planning/border.htm

Customs

Contact port or local customs offices, a commercial customs broker or customs online:United States: http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/travel/travel.htm

Canada: http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/menu-e.html

U.S.-Canada / Alaska-British Columbia Border Dispute

The United States and Canada have an unresolved border dispute over the maritime boundary between southeast Alaska and northwest British Columbia. The area is south of Alaska’s Alexander Archipelago and Prince of Wales Island and to the north of Canada’s Queen Charlotte Islands in an area known as Dixon Entrance. The disputed area is a fishing grounds that has occasionally led to accusations of fishing fleets, U.S. or Canadian, working on the wrong side of the line. Otherwise, there has been little activity or controversy despite the long-standing unresolved issue. The dispute dates back to the 1825 Anglo-Russian Convention at the boundaries it drew since at that time Canada was a colony of Great Britain and Alaska was a colony of Russia.For more information on the boundary dispute, see the following sites:

http://www.explorenorth.com/library/weekly/aa103000a.htm

http://american.edu/projects/mandala/TED/ice/alaska.htm

http://www.wwu.edu/~jay/pages/dan.html