That deadline reflects a U.S. law requiring a president to give lawmakers 90 days’ notice before signing a trade agreement. “Ideally we’ll have the Canadians involved,” a senior U.S. administration official told reporters Monday, after the Mexico deal was announced. Mr. López Obrador wants to avoid the symbolism, politically toxic for his base, of signing a trade deal with the U.S. Mexico’s left has historically opposed free-trade and Nafta. Mr. López Obrador opposed Nafta when it went into effect in 1994. But the top aide said that if it finally falls to Mr. López Obrador to sign the deal, pragmatism will likely prevail.

Source: Wall Street Journal August 31, 2018 14:17 UTC