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On the other hand, Canada could benefit from a two-stream approach, as its interests and economic conditions are much closer to those of the U.S. than Mexico, said Chris Sands, head of the Center for Canadian Studies at Johns Hopkins University.

The comments came after a flurry of developments this week pointing to a possible split in the negotiations.

President Donald Trump suggested a separate deal with Mexico was near after the U.S. had a good session with its officials, while one with Canada might come “later”; close aides also talked of progress with Mexico; and the Mexican economics minister made plans to meet the chief U.S. trade negotiator in Washington, next week – a session that would not include Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday a trilateral approach was still the best path for increasing prosperity in the region.

“That’s why we’re committed to renegotiating and improving and updating NAFTA,” he told reporters in Markham, Ont.

Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s deputy ambassador to Washington, suggested in an interview earlier this week that three-way talks would get going as soon as Mexico was prepared after its recent election.

“We are ready, willing and able to get going as soon as possible,” she said.

Two sets of bilateral talks may yet result in a single, updated North American Free Trade Agreement, said Ujczo, but trilateral negotiations are unlikely to occur any time soon.

Photo by Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press

A split in talks may not be inevitable, but is more likely than not, echoed Sands.