The Financial Post reports in its Tuesday, May 9, edition that White House staff called the Prime Minister's Office last month to urge Justin Trudeau to persuade President Donald Trump not to tear up the North American free-trade agreement. The Post's John Ivison writes that the unconventional diplomatic manoeuvre proved decisive, as Trump thereafter abandoned his threat to pull out of NAFTA unilaterally. On Wednesday, April 26, the Washington Post, Politico, CNN and The New York Times published stories saying that sources within the White House were considering a draft executive order to cancel NAFTA. According to Politico, Peter Navarro, the head of Mr. Trump's National Trade Council, and White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon drafted an executive order that, if signed, would have triggered the withdrawal process. It was unclear whether the draft order was prepared as a negotiating tactic or in the hopes Mr. Trump might actually move forward with it. Mr. Trump was said to be persuaded by the argument to kill what he has repeatedly called the "worst trade deal ever," despite concerns about the economic disruption that might result. A source says, "You never know how much of it is theatre."