NAFTA fenegotiation: Foreign affairs minister Chrystia Freeland talks NAFTA modernization

Two days ahead of the start of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiations, Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, spoke at the University of Ottawa’s Centre for International Policy Studies on modernizing one of the world’s largest trade agreements.

There will be moments of drama, Minister Freeland said, but economic drivers make her optimistic that a deal is reached to benefit Canada, U.S.

Minister Freeland is looking for a more progressive NAFTA with chapters that include gender equality and indigenous rights.

But renegotiating a new version of NAFTA isn’t the same as striking a new trade agreement like CETA, she added. It’s a little like renovating a house, she said. You can’t ignore the current support structure.

EDC covered the minister’s talk and the following question and answer period live via Twitter. We’ve compiled them for you below.

Click here.

* Please note some tweets are in French only.

EDC will be posting updated information and insights during the NAFTA renegotiations.

Stay tuned to EDC.trade or follow @ExportDevCanada for more.