WASHINGTON — U.S. and Mexican officials played down the chances of the two countries imminently reaching a trade deal but said they made advances, which people familiar with the matter said centered on rules for car makers unable to meet stricter regional requirements on manufacturing content.
Mexico’s chief trade negotiator, Ildefonso Guajardo said “progress has been made” in bilateral talks to revamp the North American Free Trade, but that they may need to continue over the weekend and into next week. “Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed,” he said.
Both sides expressed hope the U.S. and Mexico can hammer out their differences in coming days to allow enough time for Canada to re-enter the talks later next week and clear remaining issues.
“We need to have engagement with Canada and the only way it can happen is if we continue into next week,” Guajardo told reporters Thursday afternoon, before heading into another round of talks with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.
An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.
Also popular on WSJ.com:
David Pecker, CEO of National Enquirer publisher, granted immunity in Michael Cohen case.
Trump tweet on South African land overhaul draws government’s ire.
