The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that the renegotiation of the North American free-trade agreement will start on Aug. 16. The Globe's Adrian Morrow and Steven Chase write that the first round of talks -- which will reopen the pact between Canada, the United States and Mexico for the first time in its 23-year history -- will take place in Washington and last four days. The U.S.'s chief negotiator is John Melle, a career civil servant who has worked at USTR since 1988 and is described by those who know him as a steady hand with a direct, no-drama style. The announcements came the same day Mexican trade officials hunkered down with their Canadian counterparts in Ottawa, in what unnamed sources said was a "relationship-building" exercise ahead of the talks. New details also emerged about the Trudeau government's approach to the negotiations. For one, Canadian provinces will not be at the table, although the federal government said they will consult premiers regularly. During the first two years of the recent Canada-European Union negotiations, provincial representatives were involved. This, however, was deemed unworkable and their involvement transitioned into more of a consultative role.