The Financial Post reports in its Friday, Jan. 19, edition that Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau suggested Thursday his department is running internal scenarios that include what would happen if NAFTA talks were to falter. The Post's Barbara Shecter writes that Mr. Morneau, however, said Ottawa remains heavily focused on "Plan A," which is strengthening the North American free-trade agreement between Canada, the United States and Mexico.
He said, "My job is to think about how we can ensure the economy is successful in the long term, so we do look at the economic impacts of any NAFTA discussion in order both (to determine) how do we improve and also to think about the challenges that the long discussion might present." Mr.
Morneau said model scenarios are "a confidential part" of Ottawa's NAFTA analysis and declined to discuss the potential impact on the economy or any specific sector if the trade agreement were to fall apart. He stressed that the focus remains on strengthening the deal.
The five rounds of talks, which pick up again next week in Montreal, have been contentious due to some extreme rhetoric from President Donald Trump.
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