[ferro-alloys.com]The US and Canada failed to reach a new trade agreement Friday, but it is likely the US, Canada and Mexico will reach a trilateral agreement on trade to replace NAFTA, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland said during a press conference Friday following negotiations.

A "win-win-win" agreement is within reach, Freeland said at a televised press conference.

Negotiations between the US and Canada will resume Wednesday, according to United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer's office.

After announcing Monday it had reached a preliminary trade agreement with Mexico, the Trump administration had set a Friday deadline to try to reach an agreement with Canada to update NAFTA.

The administration said it would like to get a final deal signed before Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto leaves office at the end of November.

"Today the President notified the Congress of his intent to sign a trade agreement with Mexico -- and Canada, if it is willing -- 90 days from now," Lighthizer said in a statement. "The agreement is the most advanced and high-standard trade agreement in the world. Over the next few weeks, Congress and cleared advisers from civil society and the private sector will be able to examine the agreement. They will find it has huge benefits for our workers, farmers, ranchers and businesses."

Lighthizer said talks between the US and Canada have been constructive, and the two parties have made progress. Announcing the deal with Mexico Monday, Trump said the US can either do a separate deal with Canada or decide to add Canada to the US-Mexico deal.

"As we have said from outset, our objective in these talks is to update and modernize NAFTA in a way that is good for Canadians, good for Americans, and good for Mexico," Freeland said, adding that Canada will only sign a deal that is good for Canada.

Freeland declined to provide details about the negotiations, including the remaining sticking points. The US Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum, which took effect for NAFTA countries June 1, are not part of the NAFTA negotiations, she said.

"Canada has said from the very outset of the 232 considerations that this is an issue entirely separate from NAFTA," Freeland said, noting that the US used a national security justification to impose the tariffs. But she said Canada is "very much opposed to the tariffs as they are unjustified and illegal."

The Steel Manufacturers Association Friday said it strongly supports a trilateral agreement to modernize the way trade is conducted in North America.

"We urge the three governments to quickly conclude talks for an agreement that represents 21st-Century standards, expands economic growth and promotes the production and use of domestic steel in the region," SMA President Philip Bell said in a statement.

"We applaud Ambassador Lighthizer and his team, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Freeland, and Mexican Secretary of Economy Guajardo for their hard work thus far. The SMA stands ready to assist the administration with the completion and implementation of this agreement."

• [Editor:王可]