Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will not sign onto a North American Free Trade Agreement that does not include a dispute resolution mechanism and exemptions for cultural industries. Trudeau says the dispute resolution mechanism in Chapter 19 ensures trade rules are followed.
Speaking in Vancouver, the prime minister also says his government won't sign an updated free trade accord with the United States and Mexico if the deal didn't continue exemptions for Canada's cultural industries, which aims to protect Canada's publishing and broadcast industries. Giving up the exemptions would be tantamount to giving up Canadian sovereignty and identity, he says.
U.S. and Canadian negotiators are set to return to the bargaining table Wednesday.
Trade analysts say the two nations need to present a text to Congress by Oct. 1 in order to join the deal the Trump administration signed with Mexico last week, and before Mexico's new president takes office Dec. 1. Otherwise, President Trump is threatening to move ahead on a deal with Mexico that excludes Canada.
