A University of Regina economics professor says a NAFTA deal and trade with the United States is “essential”.

Jason Child says there is less leverage for Canada now with the Trump administration and Mexican government having a tentative trade agreement.

Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chrystia Freeland, is in Washington, re-joining the NAFTA talks.

Childs says getting any deal should be the priority of the federal government, because the chances of Canada having any bargaining power are less now.

However, Childs adds that the Mexican and American governments’ respective desires to involve Canada in NAFTA talks speaks to the country’s relative power in the negotiation process.

He believes that a trilateral agreement between the three countries would be more beneficial for Canada than separate agreements.  (CKRM)