US-Canada talks over NAFTA end with no solution
Washington, Sept 21 (IBNS): Canada and the United States ended on Thursday inconclusive talks over the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), media reports said.
After a three-hour meeting with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Freeland said that they had discussed "some tough issues".
A Canadian government official told Toronto Star that the "tough issues" are Chapter 19.
The two government are in conflict over Chapter 19. While Canada wants to keep it in new NAFTA, the US wants to scrap it.
Canada is also reportedly protective of its dairy industry which the US wants to loosen.
Canada is also seeking some sort of protection from automotive tariffs, which the US might impose on its neighbouring nation if a renewed NAFTA is not signed.
Trump had earlier threatened to impose auto-tariffs if the NAFTA deal is not achieved.
In early September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had cleared that the Liberals won't compromise on culture and dispute resolution during the talks over NAFTA.
Trudeau said Canada won't sign a new deal if it does not include a dispute resolution mechanism and exemptions from cultural industries.
However, meetings were held between Freeland and the US officials to sign a deal.
NAFTA is an agreement which came into force from January 1994 by Canada, Mexico and United States creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America.
Trump had earlier also alleged that the US faced severe losses in the trade pact with Canada and Mexico.
Image: Chrystia Freeland Twitter
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