Trade deadlock

Talks are taking place this weekend to try to break the deadlock surrounding the creation of a North American free trade block. Senior US, Canadian and Mexican negotiators are meeting in Washington to try and reach agreement on Nafta, the North American Free Trade Association. Canada and the US have already signed a free trade pact but the stumbling block in the creation of a continent-wide zone is barriers between the US and Mexico. If agreement is reached, NAFTA, which will be phased in over 10 to 15 years, will be a market of 360 million people, rivalling the European Community.