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Reports: US, Canada Reach NAFTA Deal

by VOA News

   The United States and Canada are reported to have reached an agreement
   on the North American Free Trade Agreement ahead of a U.S.-imposed
   midnight deadline.

   Canadian news media reported the deal.

   Earlier Canada's Ambassador to the U.S., David McNaughton, had said in
   Ottowa, "Lots of progress, but we're not there yet. We still have a
   couple of tough issues, so we're doing our best."

   Late Sunday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called a Cabinet
   meeting for 10 p.m. Ottawa time to discuss the trade agreement.

   CNN reported the sticking points had been U.S. access to Canada's dairy
   market and the U.S. threat to impose tariffs on trucks, cars and auto
   parts made in Canada.

   Washington has already reached a trade agreement with Mexico and
   President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he would go ahead with the
   revamped deal, with or without Canada.

   Trump has also called NAFTA the "worst trade deal in history." He
   blames the treaty for the loss of American manufacturing jobs and has
   repeatedly threatened to abandon the trade past signed in 1994, during
   the Clinton administration.

   The three North American countries do about $1 trillion in trade among
   themselves annually.