US won't pull out of NAFTA, Canada PM Trudeau feels
Ottawa, Jan 31 (IBNS): After reports of a successful sixth round of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) talks, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he doesn't feel US President Donald Trump will pull out of the trade pact, media reports said.
Even if the US withdraws, Canada is prepared, Trueau said giving out a signal to his trade partner.
Trudeau said this in a recent interview with Chris Hall, host of CBC Radio's The House.
He was quoted by CBC News saying, "Not only do we have a Plan B, we have a Plan C and D and E and F."
"What [Plan B] involves is standing up for Canadians and making sure that we move forward in the best possible way, and depending on what the Americans do, depending on what decisions the administration takes, we'll make sure that we do the right things" he added.
The PM said: "I think one of the dangers is falling into hypotheticals and chasing rabbits down holes. Just know that we have looked at a broad range of scenarios and have an approach that is going to continue to stand up for Canadian jobs while we diversify our markets."
The sixth round of North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has ended in Montreal on Monday with a little "progress".
The trade minister of three nations-Canada, the US and Mexico have wrapped up the sixth round of the trade talks.
U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer hopes that the progress will accelerate further.
He told CBC News: "This round was a step forward, but we are progressing very slowly."
The three countries are now discussing on certain key areas leaving behind the anti-corruption issue.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said Canada will agree to a negotiated statement on trade but the country will also protect the domestic softwood lumber industry.
Freeland even stated that Canada agrees with the free and fair trade policy proposed by US President Donald Trump.
Despite a successful round of talks, Freeland accused the US of undermining the status of the NAFTA.
She also said the new version of NAFTA cannot be achieved with a mindset of "winner-takes-all".
Mexican Secretary of Economy said Ildefonso Guajardo said there are still substantial challenges to overcome.
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.
For more than two years, US President Trump criticised the agreement and also hinted to take some serious steps being in the administration or at least send some ultimatums.
Trump reportedly wants the treaty to be more fair.
Both Canada and the US differ in the climate change.
(Reporting by Suman Das)
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