U.S. PARTNERS IN NAFTA TO ACT AS “TEAM”

CITY» Mexican and MEXICO

Canadian officials said Wednesday that talks on the North American Free Trade Agreement will remain a three-way negotiation, despite suggestions by U.S. President Donald Trump that he might pursue separate trade deals with both countries.

Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said “Canada and Mexico not only share geography, history and friendship, but also principles and common goals, and we are a team and act as a team.”

Visiting Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said “Canada very much believes in NAFTA as a trilateral agreement.”

New-home sales fall 5.3 percent in June.

WASH-

INGTON» Sales of new U.S. homes tumbled 5.3 percent in June and the median sales price also slipped, a potentially ominous sign for the U.S. housing market.

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that newly built homes sold at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 631,000 last month, less than May’s revised figure of 666,000. The decline follows solid growth in previous months. Newhome sales have risen 6.9 percent this year, but builders are worried about the rising costs for lumber. At the same time, mortgage rates are on the rise and wage growth has been meager, squeezing many would-be buyers.

“Weak June new home sales add more evidence that the housing market is flattening, and may have peaked for this expansion,” said Robert Frick, a corporate economist.

EU to tighten checks on mental health of pilots.

BERLIN» The European Union is introducing rules to tighten assessments of pilots’ mental health following the Germanwings crash in 2015.

The EU’s executive commission said the new rules, which take effect in 2020, will require airlines to perform a psychological assessment of pilots before they start flying.

Survey shows German economy resisting trade fears.

FRANKFURT, GERMANY» A closely watched index of confidence among German business executives barely fell in July, suggesting that for now Europe’s largest economy remains unharmed by growing global conflict over trade.

The Ifo institute index fell to 101.7 points from 101.8 points in June. Business leaders were somewhat more satisfied with how things are now, but less so about expectations for the months ahead.