Comment from Canada's ambassador to the US MacNaughton
The Globe & Mail today reported that negotiators are close on auto content rules and that the US is flexible on the dispute-resolution process and a sunset clause.
The big problem at the moment appears to be procurement with the US demanding a cap on the amount of US government contracts that Canada and Mexican companies can bid on. Meanwhile, Canada refuses to open up its dairy and poultry industries.
From the Globe:
Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association of Canada, has been at all negotiating rounds and has advised the Canadian government on auto provisions.
"This is an expressly different direction than they were going in for the last six months or so, and I think it's directly related to moving on to China," he said.
