Trump, Trudeau discuss NAFTA renegotiation over phone call

Washington D.C. [United States], Sept 1 : United States President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday discussed North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation and stressed on their hope to reach an agreement by the end of this year.

Trump had earlier threatened to terminate North American Free Trade Agreement talks with Canada and Mexico, saying that both are "being very difficult" in renegotiation of NAFTA.

"We are in the NAFTA (worst trade deal ever made) renegotiation process with Mexico and Canada. Both being very difficult, may have to terminate?" Trump said in a tweet. Trump had recently emphasised that negotiations talks of the NAFTA with Canada and Mexico would not achieve a successful end.

"I think we'll probably end up terminating the NAFTA at some point. We have been so badly taken advantage of," he said. "Personally, I don't think you can make a deal," he added, noting that if a mutual agreement to reform the North American Free Trade Agreement cannot be met, the United States will plan to withdraw.

Earlier this month, representatives from the U.S, Canada and Mexico began renegotiation talks over NAFTA.

NAFTA is an agreement signed by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, which came into force on January 1, 1994.

Trump also spoke about the continuing devastation from catastrophic flooding in Texas and Louisiana caused by Hurricane Harvey with Trudeau.

He thanked Trudeau and the people of Canada for their offer of assistance and underscored the close ties between our two nations.

With heavy deluge from the Tropical Storm Harvey swallowing the entire Texas cities, the US military force has mobilized its warships and aircraft to help local law administration for the rescue operations.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has already activated the Texas National Guard, which comprises of nearly 12,000 troops.

State, local and military rescue units till now rescued thousands of stranded residents from the water and flooded homes.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the catastrophic flooding due to Tropical storm Harvey has mounted to 24.

Source: ANI