NAFTA countries claim 'significant progress' at end of latest talks

The U.S., Canada and Mexico jointly claimed “significant progress” Wednesday following the end of their third round of talks to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, but did not give specifics.

“In particular, meaningful advancements were made in the areas of telecommunications, competition policy, digital trade, good regulatory practices, and customs and trade facilitation. Parties also exchanged initial offers in the area of market access for government procurement,” said a joint statement by the three countries’ top negotiators, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, Mexican Secretary of the Economy Ildefonso Guajardo and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. The talks were held in Ottawa.