NAFTA talks intensify; U.S. set to unveil demands on key issues

Source: Reuters




SEPTEMBER 23, 2017 / 10:24 AM / UPDATED 44 MINUTES AGO

David Ljunggren, Lesley Wroughton

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Talks to update the North American Free Trade Agreement looked set to intensify on Saturday as U.S. negotiators prepared for the first time to unveil their demands on some of the Trump administration’s most challenging issues.

Teams from the United States, Mexico and Canada kicked off the third of seven planned rounds of discussions in Ottawa amid warnings from trade experts that time was quickly running out to seal a deal by the end of the year as planned.

The United States wants to strengthen rules of origin for autos, which dictate how much of a vehicle’s components must originate from within North America to qualify for tax free status under NAFTA.

Canada’s chief NAFTA negotiator on Saturday said he did not think the United States would unveil specific proposals for autos rules of origin in Ottawa. “We’re not expecting that, no,” Steve Verheul told reporters on his way into the talks, predicting the pace of the talks would nonetheless intensify.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-trade-nafta/nafta-talks-intensify-u-s-set-to-unveil-demands-on-key-issues-idUSKCN1BY0MV?il=0