MP on Canada-U.S. file says sharing NAFTA goals gives up negotiating advantage
OTTAWA — It would not make any sense for the Liberal government to divulge what they hope to get out of a new North American Free Trade Agreement, said Andrew Leslie, the parliamentary secretary for Canada-U.S. relations.
“It’s illogical to unmask and to lay down detailed objectives when we don’t have to,” Leslie said Friday.
“What we’d rather do is analyze what they’ve laid down — no real surprises there — figure out where we can negotiate, what we can probably push ahead or hold the line on and take it from there,” he said.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump released an 18-page summary of its objectives for the new NAFTA on Monday, as required by U.S. law.