All sides agree NAFTA talks finally heading in ‘more positive’ direction

The single biggest question looming over the current round of NAFTA negotiations was whether the talks might survive the phase where countries started seriously engaging each other on the more bedevilling sticking points. Early signs point to: Yes. Glimmers of hope have emerged in a round viewed as a litmus test for whether these talks might move beyond an early stage marked by finger-pointing, standoffishness and threats of a U.S. withdrawal, and turn into real back-and-forth, give-and-take bargaining.

Several officials said the nearly completed weeklong round in Montreal has been more constructive than previous gatherings, with countries diving into conversations about auto rules, dispute resolution, and a five-year review clause.

Negotiators closed a chapter on anti-corruption. They also plan to meet at future rounds in Mexico City and Washington over the next two months. And there’s hope it won’t be quite so hostile this time when the three politicians leading the process meet on Monday.

“We’re moving in a slightly more positive direction,” Canada’s chief negotiator, Steve Verheul, told The Canadian Press between meetings Saturday. “We’ll take that encouragement where we can.”

That account was confirmed by multiple people — including sources from two national governments, several lawmakers from Canada and the U.S. attending the talks, as well as industry stakeholders.

Dave Reichert, the Republican chairman of a powerful U.S. congressional trade committee, said after a meeting Saturday with Canadian and American officials: “I’m always optimistic. Even more so after the meeting this morning.”

His Democratic colleague Bill Pascrell agreed: “I’m more optimistic than I was six months ago ... we’ve become more positive.” Everyone added notes of caution. The serious engagement has hardly begun; none of the hard topics have been completed; other irritants like dairy have barely been touched; and negotiators are waiting to hear what U.S. trade czar Robert Lighthizer says Monday.

At least they’re talking and listening — not insulting and threatening.