OTTAWA: US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer expressed optimism that talks to modify NAFTA could be wrapped up quickly, but a top Canadian official was more downbeat, saying much work remained.
The United States wants to hasten the slow pace of negotiations on the $1.2 trillion North American Free Trade Agreement, citing a need to finish before a July 1 presidential election in Mexico.
“I think we are making progress. I think that all three parties want to move forward, we have a short window, because of elections and things beyond our control,” Lighthizer told CNBC television.
“But if there’s a real effort made to try to close out and to compromise ... I’m optimistic that we can get something done in principle in the next little bit,” he said.
But chief Canadian negotiator Steve Verheul told reporters, “We’ve got quite a bit of work do yet,” and noted that Washington had not yet explained what it meant by an agreement in principle.
Officials from the three countries are due to meet in the United States next month for the eighth round of talks.
Only six of the roughly 30 chapters have been closed and wide differences remain on topics such as dispute resolution and how much North American content should be contained in autos produced in the three NAFTA nations, a file that Verheul said was still far from settled.
— Reuters
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