Canada, in ‘poison pill’ approach derided by the U.S., would eschew MFN-forward rule in NAFTA

In the just-completed sixth round of NAFTA talks, Canada proposed withholding the extension of services market access it provides in future trade agreements with others to the U.S. and Mexico -- an approach U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer called “unacceptable” and likened to a “poison pill.” The Canadian negotiating team refused to include a non-conforming measure that would compel Canada to apply the “most favored nation-forward” principle to its NAFTA partners, sources close to the talks told Inside U.S. Trade...