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Freeland appeared to suggest Canada could walk away from the negotiations unless the so-called Chapter 19 dispute-settlement mechanism is kept in the updated North American Free Trade Agreement.

Washington wants to drop Chapter 19, under which binational panels review complaints about illegal subsidies and dumping, then issue binding decisions. The United States has frequently lost such cases.

“Canada will uphold and preserve the elements in NAFTA that Canadians deem key to our national interest – including a process to ensure anti-dumping and countervailing duties are only applied fairly when truly warranted,” Freeland said in a speech at the University of Ottawa.

Noting that Canada had withdrawn its chief negotiator from 1987 trade talks with the United States over the same issue, Freeland said “our government will be equally resolute.” She did not elaborate.

She says Ottawa will also press to preserve the exception in NAFTA to protect Canadian culture and the supply management system.

Canadian negotiators will sit down with their American and Mexican counterparts Wednesday in Washington for the first round of talks. President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw from NAFTA if Mexico and Canada don’t agree to more favourable terms for the U.S.

“In all these discussions, we will come to the table with goodwill, and Canada’s characteristic ability and willingness to seek compromise and find win-win solutions,” said a prepared copy of Freeland remarks.

“But we are committed to a good deal, not just any deal.”

Last month, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer released the Trump administration’s set of priorities for the NAFTA talks.

With files from Canadian Press, Reuters