THE top U.S. trade official has poured cold water on the prospect of an imminent breakthrough in talks to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), hours after Canada’s prime minister struck a positive note.

“The NAFTA countries are nowhere near close to a deal,” U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in a statement Friday, pointing to “gaping differences” on a host of issues, including intellectual property, agricultural access, labor and energy.

Lighthizer said he would continue to work toward “the best possible deal for American farmers, ranchers, workers, and businesses.”

The future of trade talks between the United States, Mexico and Canada was in limbo as a deadline passed to present U.S. lawmakers with a revamped NAFTA after a push to conclude a deal in the past few weeks.

U.S. officials say the negotiations need to wrap up very soon to give the current U.S. Congress time to vote on a final text.

Trudeau said earlier last week that he felt “positive” about talks to rework NAFTA, while a top Mexican official noted a deal might be possible by the end of May.

“To be honest, we are down to a point where there is a good deal on the table,” Trudeau told the Economic Club of New York. “It’s right down to the last conversations. ... I’m feeling positive about this, but it won’t be done until it’s done.”

A Mexican technical negotiating team is in Washington, but there is no date set for the next NAFTA ministerial meeting with the United States and Canada.

Mexico’s economy minister, Ildefonso Guajardo, said a deal could be reached by the end of May, but added that if no agreement is reached the talks could extend beyond the July 1 Mexican presidential election.

(SD-Agencies)