07:39 AM EST, 03/06/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Canada is slated to release its international merchandise trade for January at 8:30 a.m. ET Thursday, said Bank of Montreal (BMO).

The bank noted that the merchandise trade balance likely continued benefitting from tariff front-running in January, as suggested by solid flash estimates for wholesale trade and manufacturing sales.

BMO expected the surplus to widen to C$1.0 billion, supported by higher energy prices and increased activity ahead of the then-presumed February United States tariffs. It will be looking for upward revisions to previous months after the current account release implied smaller deficits for Q4.

The US dollar (USD) is relatively flat Thursday, with the Canadian dollar (CAD or loonie) weaker (CAD per USD +0.17%), added the bank.