The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday, Sept. 25, edition that Canada's NAFTA negotiators remain uncertain as to what President Donald Trump wants from a reformed pact.
The Globe's Robert Fife and Steven Chase write that negotiators from Canada, Mexico and Washington sat down for a second day of talks in Ottawa on Sunday. Unnamed sources say progress is being made on less-significant matters affecting small and medium-size business as well as the environment and competition.
Trade dispute-resolution mechanisms and rules of origin for the auto sector are expected to be raised on Tuesday and Wednesday when Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, her Mexican counterpart Luis Videgaray and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer hold trilateral discussions.
An unnamed source says, "Nobody knows what Donald Trump wants."
Sources say U.S. negotiators are stuck in a "position where they want to please" the President rather than negotiate on issues of substance.
One source notes that Mexican and Canadian officials have come to meetings prepared and briefed, unlike their U.S. counterparts. A source notes the Americans have still not provided a full range of texts for the negotiations.
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