Canada in December posted its first trade surplus in 10 months as exports expanded faster than imports, led by a push by U.S. businesses to build up inventory ahead of potential tariffs on Canada and generally strong U.

OTTAWA - Statistics Canada says the country's merchandise trade surplus with the world was $708 million in December.

Canada’s energy exports to the US jumped at the end of last year, pushing the country’s trade surplus with its biggest customer to the highest in more than two years.

A jump in Canadian energy exports to the U.S. and further weakening of the loonie saw Canada’s trade surplus with its neighbor balloon in December, helping the country to its first goods-trade surplus with the world in 10 months.

Canada saw its first trade surplus in ten months in December as exports continued to expand faster than imports, led by higher energy product exports, higher crude oil prices and partly by weaker local currency,