The Canadian dollar fell after US Trade Representative Lightizer said that time is running out with Canada on NAFTA talks. The US has pressured Canada to join the US-Mexico trade agreement but various deadlines have come and gone with no results.
The US wants to get this negotiation wrapped up as soon s possible to be able to present a trilateral deal to congress ahead of the mid-term elections.
Gaps remains between the two sides, with the most visible ones are access to the Canadian dairy market and the dispute resolution mechanism.
Elections in the province of Quebec, where a large number of dairy farmers are located, complicates matter as Canada realistically could not make big concessions until after the election.
The Canadian dollar is stuck in a tight range on Tuesday. Earlier in the session it was gaining on the US dollar, but the words from Lightizer put the loonie in a back foot, despite the rise in oil prices supporting the currency.
