According to U.S. officials, if Canada does not reach a deal with the United States for a trilateral NAFTA pact by September 30, Washington will proceed with a Mexico-only agreement, leaving Canada out in the cold.
As often happens in trade talks, several obstacles stand before a new agreement including the Trudeau government’s reluctance—mindful of the Quebec election on October 1—to dismantle even a modest part of Canada’s supply management system, which slaps tariffs on imports of staple foods such as milk, eggs and poultry.
Canadian trade negotiators also reportedly refuse to lengthen the period of data protection for biologic drugs, insist on protecting Canada’s cultural industries, and remain attached to the current NAFTA dispute resolution process.
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