Canada's lead minister on the North American Free Trade Agreement file is cancelling her plans to attend the NATO summit in Brussels to participate in vital late-game trade talks in Washington D.C.Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland is sending her parliamentary secretary, Omar Alghabra, to Belgium in her place. Those talks will continue on Friday; there's no official word on when the minister will be returning to Canada. Freeland said late Thursday that as far as Canada is concerned, NAFTA negotiations and tariffs are separate issues. While a full NAFTA agreement by that date is unlikely, Canada is looking to get a permanent exemption from the tariffs. Whether the new customs measures, or Freeland's decision to stay behind in Washington D.C., can lead to an agreement soon remains unknown.

Source: CBC News April 26, 2018 20:16 UTC