OTTAWA - Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland arrived Wednesday in an American capital divided by the presidential impeachment saga for a meeting aimed at finding the bipartisan agreement needed to finalize a new North American trade deal. Freeland, who is the lead minister for the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, started her day with a federal cabinet meeting in the Ottawa area. But Freeland had been in close contact with Lighthizer, speaking on the phone with him Tuesday and Wednesday, said officials. Trump has levelled scathing criticism on the Democrats for blocking progress on the trade deal by focusing on impeachment. As for the core text of the deal, Canada has maintained it considers that signed and sealed, not to be re-opened for further negotiations.

Source: thestar November 27, 2019 18:47 UTC