Pete Hoekstra

US President Trump’s comment that he is not looking to renew the continental trade agreement is actually an invitation to make a deal, the US ambassador to Canada said Thursday. Pete Hoekstra looked to reframe the President’s Wednesday remarks that the US does not need anything from Canada and may not renew the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. “You maybe don’t like the way the President says it, but … what he’s saying is we’re open to offers,” Mr. Hoekstra said. …Officials from all three countries have said they expect negotiations to continue beyond July 1, meaning the annual review scenario is more likely than an outright renewal. …Mr. LeBlanc said he and chief trade negotiator Janice Charette met with U.S. trade representative. “We’re doing the important work of answering some of the long-standing concerns that the United States has,” Mr. LeBlanc said. [to access the full story a Globe & Mail subscription is required]