Olivier Douliery/Getty Images President Donald Trump speaks during a Made in America product showcase event at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday.

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has released its broad goals for a new North American Free Trade Agreement in mostly vague language that offers just enough specific clues to point to potentially tough negotiations ahead.

"It will be pretty intense and hard-fought. ... Don't expect it to be finished in less than eight months,'' Miller said. "And expect Canada to have to fight hard for issues it cares about.''

A Washington-based trade expert who advises the Canadian government didn't flinch when asked what this means for NAFTA talks, which are scheduled to start next month: "Longer, rather than shorter,'' said Eric Miller, a consultant at Rideau Potomac who advises Industry Canada.

The U.S. says it wants more exports of its dairy products, wine and grains; freer trade in telecommunications and online purchases; new rules on currency manipulation; an overhaul of the dispute-settlement system; and more access for U.S. banks abroad.

Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with U.S. President Donald Trump at the G-20 summit in Hamburg, Germany on July 8, 2017.

Some of the issues might be hotly debated, even between Canadians themselves.

For example, the demand on online purchases could pit bargain-hunting Canadian consumers against bricks-and-mortar shops. The U.S. wants to increase the amount Canadians can buy online without paying an import tax, by 4,000 per cent.

Canada has one of the world's most punitive duty systems for online shoppers. It will be urged to increase its duty-free limit to $800 from its current $20, according to the document released Monday by the U.S. trade czar.

The 16-page list contains some elements that might appear contradictory or confusing.

It says the U.S. will demand more opportunities for American suppliers for government procurement abroad, such as construction projects. But in the next breath, it insists on preserving Buy American rules that limit such rights for foreigners.

Of that contradiction, Miller joked: "It's called the mercantilist dream — we want you to open to us, but we don't want to open up to you.'' He said it was more likely a signal that the U.S. wants Canada to stop demanding greater access to contracts at the state and local level.

It's called the mercantilist dream — we want you to open to us, but we don't want to open up to you.Eric Miller

There is a vaguely worded section on banking. It calls for more opportunities for U.S. financial-service providers, which Miller said could be interpreted as a call for Canada to accept U.S. deposit-taking banks.

It also demands the elimination of the dispute-settlement system that has ruled in favour of Canada on softwood lumber. But it's unclear how the U.S. would replace Chapter 19 — which, to Canada, was a make-or-break issue in the original 1980s trade talks.

Canadian negotiators suspended talks over that dispute-settlement issue. Later, on the final evening of negotiations, with a midnight deadline, then-prime minister Brian Mulroney informed the U.S. there would be no deal — without an international arbitration system.

Canadian trade expert Peter Clark concurred: "This will not be a short negotiation.''

But he cautioned against drawing too many conclusions from this initial list.

"These asks are normal for the start of a negotiation. Goals are always ambitious — these are very ambitious,'' he said. "The end result will inevitably fall short. But that is the way it is done.''

'We will be ready'

Monday's release came as no surprise to the Canadian government.

The Prime Minister's Office was in touch with the White House and sources say it was given a heads-up in advance of the release. Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said she was prepared to start negotiating.

"We welcome the opportunity to modernize NAFTA to reflect new realities — and to integrate progressive, free, and fair approaches to trade and investment,'' she said in a statement.