A CLARIFICATION IS NECESSARY, PM TRUDEAU

   WASHINGTON — The United States declared the NAFTA countries were nowhere close to a deal in a statement Thursday designed to douse expectations that an agreement might be just a few minor adjustments away.
     It rebuffed an effort from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, and several high-ranking staffers who were in the U.S. on Thursday urging a quick deal.
    U.S. trade czar Robert Lighthizer rejected the idea that an agreement was within imminent reach. He cited big differences on intellectual property, agriculture, online purchases, energy, labour, rules of origin, and other issues.
    "The NAFTA countries are nowhere near close to a deal.... There are gaping differences," Lighthizer said in an evening statement.
    Trudeau had spent the day promoting the idea that an agreement was now within reach.