Mexican ambassador says Canada can still join trade pact after deadline expires

In this April 21, 2008 file photo, national flags of the United States, Canada, and Mexico fly in the breeze in New Orleans. Mexico will continue to support bringing Canada into its trade agreement with the United States even if it fails to reach an agreement by the American-imposed deadline of this weekend, its ambassador says. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Judi Bottoni BANFF, Alta. – Mexico will continue to support bringing Canada into its trade agreement with the United States even if its North American neighbours fail to reach an accord by the U.S. deadline of this weekend, its ambassador says.

The U.S. and Mexico are poised to present the text of their bilateral trade deal today. The U.S. Congress is pushing Canada to join the pact by a deadline of Sunday to allow Mexico’s current government to sign the deal before it leaves office on Dec. 1.

"We want the agreement to be trilateral," said ambassador Dionisio Perez Jacome after giving a speech at the Global Business Forum in Banff, Alta., on Thursday.

"Hopefully Canada can be included already in the text. If not, then the process gets more complicated but it’s also possible to come in sometimes, some days after."

He said the new left-leaning Mexican government under Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador supports the bilateral deal with the U.S. and favours an open market-based economy.

Earlier, David MacNaughton, Canadian ambassador to the U.S., said he doesn’t think Canada should sign a deal it doesn’t agree with in order to meet the deadline.

He said a […]

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