Canadian and U.S. officials have agreed to take a weekend break from NAFTA talks after a week of tense negotiations in Washington and comments from U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting he is unwilling to compromise on a deal.

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters she's optimistic a deal is still within reach, but "we're not there yet."

"With goodwill and flexibility on all sides I know we can get there," she said at a Friday afternoon news conference at the Canadian Embassy.

Freeland said Canada is making progress but "will only sign a new agreement if it benefits Canada and Canadians."

United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said he'll pick up with Canada's team on Wednesday in Washington, D.C.

"We have also been negotiating with Canada throughout this year-long process. This week those meetings continued at all levels. The talks were constructive, and we made progress," Lighthizer said in an emailed statement.

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters she's optimistic a deal is still within reach, but 'we're not there yet.' 1:00

He said U.S. President Donald Trump has notified Congress that his government intends to sign a trade agreement "with Mexico — and Canada, if it is willing — 90 days from now."

Senior U.S. officials, speaking to reporters on a background call, said the Trump administration is on pace to offer Congress a full text of the renegotiated deal within 30 days.

The United States, Canada and Mexico had been trying to come up with at least a preliminary agreement in principle by the end of Friday — a deadline selected by Trump.

Sources tell CBC News that Chapter 19 of NAFTA, which contains a dispute-resolution process that Canada is determined to keep and the U.S. wants to scrap, is the most challenging area in the talks.

Another continuing irritant, supply management, reared its head Friday when a spokesperson for Lighthizer said Canada hasn't made any concessions on agriculture.

'Canada knows where I stand'

The pause in talks and Trump's letter to Congress capped off a rocky day of negotiations.

The Toronto Star reported Friday that Trump, in an interview with Bloomberg News, said the U.S. is unwilling to make concessions and that his position was "going to be so insulting they're [Canada] not going to be able to make a deal." CBC News has not independently verified the comments.

U.S. President Donald Trump admitted making off-the-record comments about NAFTA negotiations after the Toronto Star reported he told Bloomberg News the U.S. would not make any compromises in a deal. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Trump admitted on Twitter that he made the comments to Bloomberg on Friday, claiming an understanding with the news agency that his comments were off the record was "blatantly violated."

"Oh well, just more dishonest reporting. I am used to it. At least Canada knows where I stand!" he tweeted.

Wow, I made OFF THE RECORD COMMENTS to Bloomberg concerning Canada, and this powerful understanding was BLATANTLY VIOLATED. Oh well, just more dishonest reporting. I am used to it. At least Canada knows where I stand! —@realDonaldTrump

Sources say Canada confronted U.S. negotiators about Trump's comments as talks between Freeland and Lighthizer got underway in Washington earlier in the day.

Asked about the report, Freeland insisted Canada won't cave to any demand, and that the government will defend the national interest in any NAFTA deal.

Trump claims total control