“The talks were constructive, and we made progress,” U. S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in a statement.
Trade talks between the United States and Canada will kick off again Wednesday after the two sides ended Friday’s tense negotiations without a deal.
Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump notified Congress that he wants to sign a trade agreement with Mexico, and potentially Canada, in 90 days, U. S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in a statement. The neighbors emerged from Friday, the White House’s deadline for Canada to join in on a deal the U. S. struck with Mexico earlier in the week, without resolving sticking points.
“The talks were constructive, and we made progress. Our officials are continuing to work toward agreement,” Lighthizer said.
Trump has sought to revise the three-nation trade agreement, which he says has punished American workers since it went into effect more than 20 years ago. The president has used tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods to bring the countries to the negotiating table and wants them to drop their own barriers on certain products.
Earlier, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland said her country would not strike an agreement unless it was satisfied with it.
“We’re looking for a good deal, not just any deal. We will only agree to a deal that is a good deal for Canada. We’re not there yet,” she told reporters.
Read Lighthizer’s full statement:
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