NAFTA Renegotiations Make Progress on Small Business, E-commerce

Can of contentious issues kicked down the road, awaiting US formal position

Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland meets for a press conference with Mexico's Secretary of Economy Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal (L) and Robert E. Lighthizer, United States Trade Representative on Sept. 27, 2017 in Ottawa. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA—A tough road lies ahead as the third round of NAFTA renegotiations concluded on Sept. 27, but progress on small business and e-commerce emerged as accomplishments after five days of talks in Canada’s capital city.

However, many doubt whether the renegotiations can be completed in seven rounds by the end of the year given that the United States has not established a formal position on the more difficult areas such as rules of origin for manufactured products, the dairy sector, and dispute resolution.