Exporters hope for US-Canada breakthrough

On Friday the US and Canada resolved enough differences to trigger a statement from US president Donald Trump to Congress that he intends to keep Canada as part of the new North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta), setting in motion a 90-day clock for the parties to sign the agreement, writes John Whelan.

The news followed on from the prior week’s statement by the Trump administration that a bilateral deal would be signed with Mexico.

Friday’s deadline for agreeing a new trade deal with Canada was always a typical Trump bluff as he blustered to push for an early deal to suit his November mid-term election plans.