Globe says Magna, rivals hear Ottawa playing hardball 2018-01-12 06:45 ET - In the News
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The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that Canada is working on a proposal to boost the amount of North American-made content in cars and trucks made in the NAFTA zone, unnamed sources say, in a bid to break the deadlock over one of the most contentious subjects in the trade deal's renegotiation. The Globe's Greg Keenan, Adrian Morrow and Bill Curry write that Ottawa is also crafting a series of potential compromises on the North American free-trade agreement's dispute-resolution provisions, another major sticking point in the talks between Canada, the United States and Mexico. However, even as Canada offers President Donald Trump an olive branch, it is serving notice it will not be pushed around: Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said a World Trade Organization case made public earlier this week was about winning the U.S.'s "respect" by firing a shot across its bow. He says: "When people see that you're firm, you get respect. And I think that the message that has been sent is one of firmness." The prospective NAFTA proposals, sources say, are aimed at salvaging the acrimonious negotiations by offering the Trump administration compromises to back off its tough protectionist demands.