DEMOCRAT NEAL, PM TO TALK USMCA

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal cabinet will be briefing an influential American lawmaker Wednesday on Canada’s work with Mexico to ease Democrats’ doubts over ratifying the new North American free trade deal. Richard Neal, pictured, chair of the U.S. House of Representatives ways and means committee, is a key player in bringing ratification of the new United States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement, or USMCA as it is known in the U.S., to the floor of Congress for final legal approval. Labour Minister Patty Hajdu will join an expanded meeting between Neal, Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland to provide an update on how Canada is trying to help Mexico comply with a key USMCA provision — ensuring that measures to improve workers’ rights in Mexico are enforceable, officials say.