"I am quite optimistic," Forsyth told MPs. When legislation to enact the revised North American Free Trade Agreement was hurried through Parliament last winter, the government agreed to a NDP proposal laying out how future deals would have more parliamentary oversight. 'Ain't gonna happen'When Forsyth told the committee Friday that he was negotiating based on a Dec. 31 deadline, MPs got agitated. The transitional deal will not have a fixed term or sunset clause, but both sides have committed to a more conventional bilateral trade negotiation next year to reach a permanent, comprehensive deal. Forsyth told MPs he did not have a negotiating mandate to offer the U.K. an additional slice of Canada's cheese market, for example, even though the U.K. wanted it.

Source: CBC News November 21, 2020 00:22 UTC