U.S. frustration with Canada prompts talk of separate NAFTA deals: report

WASHINGTON —The United States trade czar is expressing frustration with Canada in the NAFTA negotiations.

READ MORE: Trudeau must tread carefully on NAFTA during U.S. trip, former Obama adviser says

That’s according to a U.S. lawmaker who attended a meeting with him today.

Congressman Ron Kind says U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is even talking about finishing NAFTA negotiations with Mexico first, then doing a separate negotiation with Canada later.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

WATCH: Ongoing coverage of NAFTA negotiations 

7:05 The term NAFTA is toxic it needs a new name: Heyman

• The term NAFTA is toxic it needs a new name: Heyman
• Some progress, lots of frustration in NAFTA talks
• Freeland on NAFTA: Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
• Lighthizer questions NAFTA over $87B trade deficit with Canada
• U.S. NAFTA negotiator says ‘some progress’ made, but moving ‘slowly’
• U.S. NAFTA negotiator says ‘some progress’ made, but moving ‘slowly’
• Trudeau says government has made progress on trade files, working on NAFTA
• ‘Walk faster’: U.S. NAFTA negotiator barges through reporters ahead of final day of talks

Previous Video

Next Video

Kind is a Democrat and one of numerous lawmakers who attended a rare briefing with the U.S. trade representative on Capitol Hill.

READ MORE: Trudeau says Canada could walk away from NAFTA over ‘multiple issues’

Three other congressmen who participated in the meeting didn’t confirm or deny Lighthizer’s comments. Lighthizer himself also refused to comment afterward.

But some say Lighthizer’s remarks might be tactical – to simply up the pressure on Canada. Some Democrats called it strange to say things are going smoother with Mexico – when key issues related to labour costs and outscourced jobs have yet to be sorted out.