Mexico doubts that a NAFTA deal is possible by Thursday target date

WASHINGTON — Don’t expect a NAFTA deal by this week’s supposed target date.

That’s the view of Mexico’s economy minister.

Ildefonoso Guajardo told his country’s Televisa network that he doesn’t see a deal happening by Thursday, which the U.S. Congress calls the latest possible date to get a deal in order to have time to vote on it this year.

Guajardo says the U.S. needs to show some flexibility on key NAFTA proposals, and he doesn’t see it happening by Thursday.

He even revealed the details of a conversation on the subject between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Donald Trump, who spoke by phone on Monday.

He says Trudeau told the U.S. president that the ingredients are there for a deal, but Guajardo also says the American side needs to drop some of its impractical proposals.