Republican US senators left a trade-focused meeting with President Donald Trump on Wednesday expressing optimism that Trump is less likely to scuttle the NAFTA trade pact than previously feared, and would press ahead with talks to modernize it. Hatch later told reporters that Trump gave senators no guarantee that he would not quit NAFTA. "But I think he wants to do NAFTA," Hatch added, referring to a modernization deal. The senators meeting with Trump were largely pro-trade Republicans, including several from farming states who have expressed concerns that a NAFTA exit would seriously damage US agricultural exports. Senator John Cornyn, the second-ranking Senate Republican, told Reuters after the meeting that he is "more optimistic" that Trump won't terminate NAFTA.

Source: dna February 08, 2018 01:15 UTC