Trade deficit top priority in Nafta talks, says US

US, Mexico & Canada would meet in Washington to discuss logistics of the talks

The United States on Monday launched the first salvo in the renegotiation of the 23-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta), saying its top priority for the talks was shrinking the US trade deficit with Canada and Mexico.

In a much-anticipated document sent to lawmakers, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said he would seek to reduce the trade imbalance by improving access for US goods exported to Canada and Mexico under the three-nation pact.

For the first time in a US trade deal, the administration also said it wants an “appropriate” provision to deter currency manipulation by trading partners. The