CANADA STOCKS-TSX futures rise on trade optimism and U.S. economic data

July 18 (Reuters) - Futures linked to Toronto's main stock index edged higher on Friday, with investor sentiment buoyed by domestic trade updates and U.S. data signalling economic resilience.

Futures on the S&P/TSX index .SXFcv1 rose 0.2% at 1,636.40 points by 06:20 a.m. ET (1020 GMT).

Canada's International Trade Minister pointed to interest in advancing trade talks with the South American bloc Mercosur, comprising Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, as Ottawa seeks to diversify its trade relations beyond the U.S.

Prime Minister Mark Carney and his team are in talks with U.S. President Donald Trump to reach a trade agreement before the August 1 deadline, when 35% tariffs are set to take effect.

In other trade-related news, Canada and New Zealand reached a "mutually satisfactory" resolution to a long-term dispute over dairy product access, which will allow for better access to the Canadian market, Ottawa said on Thursday.

Trump has previously criticised high Canadian tariffs on dairy products.

Earlier this week, Carney introduced a steel tariff rate quota in a bid to protect the domestic steel industry. China's Commerce Ministry urged Ottawa on Friday to drop the restrictions while threatening countermeasures.

Thursday's positive retail sales and U.S. weekly jobless claims data showed that the economy has continued to show resilience despite tariff-related uncertainty.

Gold XAU= prices edged higher, while platinum rose to a near 11-year high and copper climbed to an over one-week high. Oil CLc1, LCOc1 rose after EU's new sanctions on Russia.

TSX hit a record high on Thursday, helped by financial and technology shares, as Alimentation Couche-Tard abandoned a major takeover bid and U.S. data pointed to economic resilience.

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