James Alexander Michie: Apparently, Canada was rejected as part of the high-level NAFTA | National Post

Author: James Alexander Michie

Canada was rejected as part of the high-level NAFTA talks between the United States and Mexico, which is said to be due to the discontent that Lighthizer shows towards Freeland, since according to sources it has decided not to allow Canada to return to the process until his part is carried out a substantial concession, it is suggested that US officials have rejected the candidacy of Canada to be part of the high-level talks of NAFTA between the nations of Mexico and the United States. It is also stated that Chancellor Chrystia Freeland's attempts to find a place in Washington on Thursday were unsuccessful since they were either rejected or ignored.

According to other sources, the request to be part of the said meeting was carried out in a discreet manner to avoid the occurrence of a diplomatic incident and a withdrawal from diplomatic silence was followed.

Meanwhile, it is expected that Lighthizer, who is the United States Trade Representative (USTR), will participate in a meeting with the Minister of Economy of Mexico, Ildefonso Guajardo, followed by bilateral meetings where significant changes were achieved. Apparently, the measure of rejecting Canada is intended to reach an agreement with Mexico separately to use this as a measure of pressure so that Canada will later be similarly compromised.

In the same way, everything indicates that recent events have only been part of a steady deterioration in relations between Ottawa and the White House since formal three-party dialogues have not been given to modernizing the Free Trade Agreement. North America since May, in fact, was expected to resume after the presidential elections to be held earlier this month in Mexico.

On the other hand, Canadian officials are waiting for the talks to enter the final stage before making any move, however, according to sources, the officials of the United States expect Canada to act much earlier, they also expect Canada to send a signal to the White House or give them something in return that of course is of interest to the United States and not necessarily must go public because it could reach an agreement in private.

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