Trudeau tells the Liberal caucus `we will not sign an unfavourable deal´ on NAFTA
(The Star Toronto Raptors)

SASKATOON— NAFTA talks between Canada and the U.S. are at a critical juncture as the U.S. continues to push for greater access to Canadian dairy markets and cultural industries while Canada insists on a robust independent rules-based trade system.Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters late Wednesday she is not returning to Washington until next week but has dispatched Canada’s lead negotiator Steve Verheul and Canada`s ambassador to the U.S. David MacNaughton to probe issues at a “technical level� with their American counterparts.She said she still believes a three-way Canada-U.S.-Mexico deal “is achievable� even though U.S. President Donald Trump says he is prepared to put his bilateral agreement with Mexico before Congress for approval without Canada’s sign-on by Sept. 30.Freeland denied her absence from the table for the rest of the week means the political ministers are at a stalemate. But she stressed that in such a complicated negotiation “nothing is done until everything is done.�Freeland briefed caucus on the talks, and later she and the Liberal government’s team of negotiators including senior PMO aides met behind closed doors with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for an hour and a half.Freeland continued talks by phone with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer in the afternoon and in the evening Freeland again met with the prime minister. Trudeau, who did not take questions from reporters, told caucus his negotiators were still looking for “a deal that will strengthen our economy, that will create jobs and opportunities for Canadians and we will not sign an unfavourable deal, we’d prefer to not sign a deal.�Canada’s premiers have until now lined up behind Trudeau’s approach.Read more:Liberals to chart road to 2019 election at national caucus retreatTrump, Trudeau relationship can be salvaged, Mulroney saysQuebec Liberal Leader Philippe Couil ...