Trump says NAFTA deal is likely this week with Canada

President Donald Trump said talks with Canada to overhaul the North American Free Trade Agreement are going well, expressing optimism the two countries could reach a deal this week.

“We’re doing really well,” Trump told reporters Wednesday at the White House, referring to negotiations between U.S. and Canadian officials in Washington. “They want to be part of the deal. And we gave till Friday, and I think we’re probably on track.”

Earlier, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government is trying to reach agreement with the U.S. this week. But Trudeau added that Canada won’t sacrifice its goal of getting the “right deal.”

“We’re seeing if we can get to the right place by Friday,” Trudeau told reporters Wednesday in Kapuskasing, Ontario. “We’re going to be thoughtful, constructive, creative around the table, but we are going to ensure that whatever deal gets agreed to is the right deal for Canada and the right deal for Canadians.”

The U.S. is pressuring Canada to strike a deal by week’s end, which is when the Trump administration plans to inform Congress that the president intends to sign a trade pact with Mexico in 90 days that would replace NAFTA. This week’s showdown has Canada under the gun to either strike a deal both can live with, yield to Trump’s pressure tactics or dig in and see what the U.S. will do.