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Canada has credited Mexico with making significant concessions in its deal with the U.S. on automobiles and for permitting large wage increases for Mexican auto workers — something Canada and the U.S. both wanted to stop the growing flow of automobile production into Mexico because of its cheap labour.

But Mexico believes it has also done much of the “heavy lifting” on getting the Americans to back down on its demand to limit the ability of Canadian and Mexican firms to bid on U.S. infrastructure projects, while seeking greater access for American firms to Mexican and Canadian government projects.

The proposal offended Canada and Mexico when it was tabled by U.S. trade czar Robert Lighthizer last fall during the early rounds of the 13-month-old NAFTA renegotiation.

The U.S. proposed a dollar-for-dollar approach that would have limited access for Canadian firms because Canada’s economy is so much smaller.

Sources say Lighthizer withdrew that demand during this summer’s one-on-one negotiation with Mexico, returning the continent’s procurement rules to the status quo.

Canada has privately expressed frustration with Mexico’s decision to strike its own deal with the U.S. last month.

But one source familiar with how the negotiations have progressed said Canada was fully informed every step of the way on the Mexico-U.S. deal, noting Freeland and chief negotiator Steve Verheul were kept in the loop.

The source said Canada transgressed first with a surprise auto proposal last spring that it gave directly to the U.S. without consulting Mexico.