NAFTA negotiation between US and Canada continued to drag on with no concrete results after yesterday’s meeting. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland just repeated her words that “we are making good progress,” discussions were “constructive and productive” with “goodwill on both sides.” But the key issues were unresolved and expectation is low for a deal to be made this week.
The Chapter 19 dispute resolution mechanism remained a sticky point. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau insisted on having the mechanism as Trump is a president “who doesn’t always follow the rules as they’re laid out.” Another deadlock is diary quota which Canada might concede some ground, but based on condition that others issues are satisfactorily resolved. The third issue is the cultural exemptions to protect Canadian media company, which Trudeau said they’re important to Canada’s national sovereignty and identity.
