The latest round of NAFTA talks in Mexico City are scheduled to conclude today.
According to a Bloomberg report, while negotiators have made some progress, they have yet to agree on any major contentious issues. The report says while slow progress is normal in most trade negotiations, the NAFTA talks have an unusually quick timeline, and some officials are expressing doubt a deal can be reached by the target date of December. That sentiment is shared by many observers and stakeholders who say the U.S. has been slow in detailing its actual demands, according to Bloomberg.
The fast pace for NAFTA is spurred by a Mexican presidential election in July of 2018 and American mid-term congressional elections in November. Canadian officials are said to also favor a quick deal to put an end to economic uncertainty created by the talks.
The next round of talks are set for September 23rd through the 27th in Ottawa, Canada.
Source: Brownfield
