OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he believes agreement on a renewed North American free trade deal between Canada, Mexico and the United States is “eminently possible.”
Trudeau made the comments Wednesday morning upon news of a potential breakthrough over U.S. demands about auto-parts rules, as well as a more general thawing of the frosty tone in earlier talks.
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Canada’s top diplomat in Washington is suggesting a deal could be in place by next month, reflecting increasing U.S. interest in finalizing a deal to avoid putting negotiations on hold for elections in Mexico and the United States later this year.
Trudeau says his government is very aware of the time pressures imposed by the U.S. mid-term elections and national elections in Mexico and are working hard to get a good deal.
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There is significant interest on all sides to signing a deal that helps all three countries and Canada will continue to negotiate towards that, Trudeau says. U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer is to outline his view of NAFTA talks today in the first of two days of testimony before Congress.
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