Fear and loathing as Trump team heads to Nafta talks
The US leader continues to blow hot and cold on the North American Free Trade Agreement he has threatened to repeal
Montreal — Negotiators from Canada, Mexico and the US will kick off the sixth round of talks aimed at revamping the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) in Montreal on Tuesday. The six days of talks come amid high trade tensions between Ottawa and Washington and as US President Donald Trump insists Mexico will pay for the construction of a controversial wall along the US’s southern border. Trump continues to blow hot and cold on the continental trade pact that he has threatened to repeal, and recently said in a Twitter message that "Nafta is a bad joke". Outraged by huge antidumping and countervailing duties imposed on Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier as well as its primary softwood lumber and newsprint exporters, Ottawa recently filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation alleging widespread trade violations by its southern neighbour. In line with his campaign commitment, Trump forced Canada and Mexico to the table to renegotiate the 1994 free trade pact, pr...
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