By: Mahmoud Salah Eldin
Riyadh – Mubasher: Mutual trade between Saudi Arabia and Canada amounted to SAR 2.786 billion ($743 million) in the first five months of 2018, a survey by Mubasher based on data released by the Saudi General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) showed.
The kingdom’s non-oil merchandise exports to Canada reached SAR 291 million ($78 million), against SAR 2.5 billion ($665 million) imports from January to May.
Trade deficit with the North American country, with the exception of oil exports, amounted to SAR 2.2 billion ($588 million).
In 2017, Saudi and Canadian trade exchange, excluding oil exports, stood at SAR 4.1 billion ($1.09 billion).
On Sunday, a spat arose between the two countries after Canada criticised civil activist arrests made by the Gulf nation. The fallout prompted the Saudi Ministry for Foreign Affairs to recall its ambassador in Canada Naif bin Bandir Alsudairy and gave the Canadian ambassador in Saudi Dennis Horak 24 hours to leave the country.
Earlier on Tuesday, and in continuation of the growing tension between the two nations, national carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) said that it stopped booking flights to Toronto and would halt flights coming from and travelling to Canada, starting Monday, 13 August.
The kingdom also said would freeze all trade and investment collaborations with Canada.
