WITA > REUTERS: Canada Sends Ministers to U.S. to Boost NAFTA as Key Talks Loom

REUTERS: Canada Sends Ministers to U.S. to Boost NAFTA as Key Talks Loom

01/04/2018

|

admin-wita

January 4, 2018 | By: DAVID LJUNGGREN-

OTTAWA (Reuters) – The Canadian government is sending three cabinet ministers to the United States to stress the merits of NAFTA, officials said on Thursday, paving the way for key talks that could either sink or save the trade pact.
 
Canada and Mexico object to major changes that Washington wants to make to the North American Free Trade Agreement, and time is running out to settle differences before the negotiations are scheduled to wrap up at the end of March.

Officials will hold the sixth and penultimate round of talks in Montreal from Jan. 23-28.

One cabinet minister is already in the United States and two more will travel this weekend.

Canada, which sends 75 percent of its goods exports to the United States, has been reaching out to U.S. politicians and the business community for almost two years to bolster support for free trade.

“We recognize we are heading into an important period. We are certainly preparing for all scenarios, and we’re hopeful that we can make progress,” a spokesman for Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said when asked about the latest visits.

 

To read the full article, click here

Contact