There was a slightly awkward moment at a photo-op today with @cafreeland and Canada's NAFTA council. @CBCKatie provides some context on the blunder. #pnpcbc #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/vAKWEI5rgc— Power & Politics (@PnPCBC) June 22, 2018
WNU Editor: The Canadian government has been saying for the past few weeks that NAFTA talks have been ongoing with the U.S. administration. But as the above report from the CBC clearly indicates, there has been none ....
.... “We don’t have any active negotiations. I haven’t talked to them in a little while,” Canada’s chief negotiator Steve Verheul said.
When asked when the last time they spoke, Verheul expanded.
“Two or three weeks. Um, I’ll have the odd conversation, but no real engagement, no real negotiation session,” Verheul explained.
Foreign affairs minister Chrystia Freeland shut down the casual banter quickly nothing the cameras in the room.
Brian Lilley's analysis on why are U.S. - Canadian relations are so frosty confirms what I have learned from my own sources. For Canadians and for Americans who are interested in their partnership with Canada, his commentary is here .... Canadian workers will pay for Trudeau-Trump trade spat (Brian Lilly).
On a side note, and another indication that the U.S. and Canadian economies are headed in opposite direction. Canada lost 31,000 full time jobs in May (for an economy 1/10th the size of the U.S.), tand he U.S. gained 223,000 full time jobs during the same period.
