The United States may be close to reaching a trade deal with Mexico, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said in an interview on Thursday.
WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 16th August, 2018) The United States may be close to reaching a trade deal with Mexico, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said in an interview on Thursday.
"I do not want to give away any detailed secrets, but trade ambassador [Robert] Lighthizer... he is getting close," Kudlow told CNBC.
Kudlow made the comment nearly a week after US President Donald Trump announced via Twitter that the United States and Mexico were making progress on a trade deal.
On Friday, Trump tweeted that he was pleased with the progress in negotiations with Mexico, but also warned there would be no trade deal unless US autoworkers and farmers are taken care of. Trump also said a trade deal with Canada must wait given that Ottawas tariffs and trade barriers are too high.
The United States, Mexico and Canada have engaged in renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) after Trump threatened to withdraw from the trade deal unless changes are made to better serve US interests. Trump has also said the United States could do separate deals with Mexico and Canada in trying to renegotiate NAFTA.
Kudlow explained on Thursday that Lighthizer - the US trade representative - is more enthusiastic now concerning reaching a trade deal than before.
"I think he was a little more optimistic than I've seen him in many moons," Kudlow said.
NAFTA has been in place since January 1, 1994.
