Trade officials missed a Thursday deadline to wrap up a renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement, and the chances are rising that there won’t be a deal at all this year. This looming fiasco is the result of the failed negotiating strategy of U.S. trade rep Robert Lighthizer, who works for a deal-making President but can’t seem to make a deal.

The missed deadline this week means there may not be enough time left in the Republican Congress to hold a vote, even in a lame-duck session. Good luck getting cooperation from...