MEXICO CITY—The latest round of NAFTA talks has begun without any substantive negotiating on key sticking points in a low-key meeting contrasting markedly with the previous round filled with bombshell demands and public scoldings. Sources said it was unlikely any major counter-demands would be tabled as negotiating teams began meeting on Saturday in key topic areas that figured in the acrimony of the previous round. They said there’s clearly a desire to lower the political temperature after lead ministers Chrystia Freeland, Robert Lighthizer and Ildefonso Guajardo practically debated on stage at the closing news conference of the previous round. Canada and Mexico expressed a willingness to discuss the U.S. demand for a review of NAFTA every five years. The new U.S. trade objectives include some that will probably irk Canada and Mexico, the U.S. recording industry and other major business interests.

Source: thestar November 19, 2017 01:52 UTC