PHOENIX, USA, Aug 23 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump could end the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), involving Mexico and Canada, after a failed round of negotiations tripartite.
The three nations concluded their first round of talks to renew the trade pact with few signs of progress. Trump reopened negotiations on the 1994 treaty over concerns that his country's economic interests were being affected.
"Personally, I don't think we can make a deal. I think we'll probably end up ending NAFTA at some point," Trump said at a rally Tuesday night in Phoenix, Arizona.
Suggesting that a termination could help boost negotiations, Trump said: "I personally don't think you can make a deal without a termination."
Following Trump's statements, Mexico's Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Luis Videgaray, wrote on Twitter:
"No surprises: we are already in a negotiation. Mexico will remain at the table with serenity, firmness and the national interest ahead."
In a joint statement issued after five days of meetings in Washington, the top trade officials of the three countries said that Mexico will host the next round of NAFTA negotiations from September 1 to 5.
A third round will be held in Canada at the end of September and in October the United States will again host trade representatives from the three countries, with more rounds scheduled for the rest of the year.
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