NAFTA Renegotiations Continue As Deadlines Loom -

In May 2018, Canada, Mexico, and the United States continued to engage in intense and challenging negotiations over amendments to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Several deadlines for the negotiations are looming. The ability of the three countries to meet these deadlines will play a critical role in determining whether an agreement is reached.

In mid-May, United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer provided a status update on the NAFTA negotiations, stating that, "[f]or many weeks now, the United States, Mexico and Canada have engaged in intensive, continuous discussions to renegotiate NAFTA…" A few days afterwards, Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, stated that the countries were "close to a deal" and were "down to a point where this is a good deal on the table." Apparently in response, Ambassador Lighthizer said that the "NAFTA countries are nowhere near close to a deal."