The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that Canadian and American trade officials are engaged in "business-like, cordial" negotiations, says Dominic LeBlanc, the federal minister for North American trade. The Globe's Tim Kiladze writes that Mr. LeBlanc expressed optimism the review of the three-country free-trade agreement will produce satisfactory results for Canada. Despite the "public prosecution" of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement in the U.S., Mr. LeBlanc said behind the scenes there are "private, government-to-government conversations which are not discouraging." His comments during a Canadian Club event, countered the language used by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who said earlier this week that any deal with Canada must include higher tariffs. Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne also said this week there is a growing acceptance worldwide that countries have to pay a price to access the U.S. market. Mr. LeBlanc notes President Donald Trump has shown willingness to maintain the USMCA, except for tariffs on sectors important to national security, like steel. He further notes that American business leaders and associations are now vocal in their support for free trade.