28/07/2017 (Agence Europe) – After 90 days of consultations with the US Congress and stakeholders, the US representative for foreign trade, Robert Lightzier, announced on 20 July that the first session of renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) would take place in Washington on 16-20 August. NAFTA was concluded in 1994 between the USA, Canada and Mexico. During his electoral campaign in 2016, US President Donald Trump multiplied US attacks on Mexcio and the NAFTA – which he had described as "the worst trade agreement" the US has ever signed, and which he had threatened to leave. These threats contributed to quickening the pace of talks between the EU and Mexico for updating the comprehensive agreement of 1997, with both parties wanting to reach an agreement in principle by the end of 2017 (see EUROPE 11832). (EH)