Rick,

Excellent comment!

Our PM is now in a difficult spot that will test his nerve and clarity of purpose.  Clearly, efforts (in the form of mixed messages from various persons associated with the Trump Administration) have been afoot over the past week or so to divide Canada from Mexico as a prelude to confronting Mexico and  Canada separately with harsh NAFTA related demands.  Clearly, some Canadian circles welcome the fact that Canada seems to be viewed within circles around Trump apart from Mexico in the NAFTA context.

Canada has different interests to those of Mexico but we have a common interest to ensure that NAFTA negotiations are conducted in a reasonable and rational fashion and not through bullying or threats.  C

Canada should therefore now suggest that meetings with Trump be delayed to give an opportunity to re-establish the basis for triparty NAFTA discussions to proceed from the onset.