The Voice of Canada News|

U.S trade representative Robert Lighthizer rebuffed any talk of the ongoing NAFTA issues after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that it was ‘a good deal’. Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, Mexico’s economy minister Idefonso Guajardo and other high-ranking officials urged a quick deal.

Lighthizer rejected the deal by referring to big differences in intellectual property, agriculture, online purchases, energy, labour, and all other issues. He said “We of course will continue to engage in negotiations, and I look forward to working with my counterparts to secure the best possible deal for American farmers, ranchers, workers, and businesses,” and further added that “there are gaping differences”. Canada and Mexico continued with resistance towards U.S.’s ideas, but later agreed that they would keep negotiating beyond Thursday and a date had been finalized to get the deal to U.S. Congress.

Among the three countries, Canada, Mexico and some parts of U.S. are eager to seal the deal to settle issues related to NAFTA before elections in Mexico, and to create certainty in terms of business.