Nafta talks report progress and year end goal to finish negotiations on track

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Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland shakes hands with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer as Mexico's Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo looks on after addressing the media to close the second round of Nafta talks involving the United States, Mexico and Canada in Mexico City, Mexico, on September 5, 2017. Photo: Reuters

Published: 4:48am, 6 Sep 2017Updated: 4:48am, 6 Sep 2017

Trade Ministers from Canada, Mexico and the United States said on Tuesday they made progress in weekend talks to update the Nafta trade pact, consolidating language for some proposals and reaffirming their commitment to complete negotiations toward the end of 2017.

A trilateral statement issued by US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland and Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo sought to quell concerns about US commitment to the North American Free Trade Agreement in light of recent threats by President Donald Trump to terminate it.

They announced a third round of talks in Ottawa for September 23-27.

“The three countries are fully committed to the negotiation of a new Nafta that will allow nations of North America to increase their competitiveness, expand regional trade and join forces in facing the challenges of international competition,” the ministers said in the statement.

Crates of avocados in Mexico. The fruit is one of the items which would be affected by talks on Nafta. Photo: Reuters

In five days of talks in Mexico City, the ministers said their negotiators were able to consolidate language for several proposals, and their teams would continue to work on these in coming weeks.