CANADA/CONGRESS/DEMS/MEXICO/NAFTA/TRADE DEALS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump on Monday [10-1-18] praised a new trade deal struck with Canada and Mexico to revamp NAFTA, but acknowledged he could have trouble getting Congress to approve it if Democrats take control of the House or Senate in the November midterm elections…Trump savored the end of 14 months of difficult talks that concluded late Sunday night, portraying the deal as a validation of his trade policies and the negotiating leverage provided by tariffs on Canadian and Mexican steel and aluminum and threatened duties on automotive products…Trump said the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement would help U.S. workers and companies by increasing incentives to manufacture in the United States and North America. He criticized the existing NAFTA deal, negotiated more than 25 years ago, as ‘perhaps the worst trade deal ever made.’ Trump also reiterated his threat to ‘terminate and replace’ the existing NAFTA framework, a move that could force reluctant lawmakers to consider the new agreement, even if they decide they prefer the existing pact or want some provisions reworked. That step also could set up a clash with Congress over whether Trump has the authority to withdraw from NAFTA.”
–Doug Palmer and Rebecca Morin, “Trump begins push to win approval of new Canada, Mexico trade deal,” Politico, October, 1, 2018 4:15 pm