Scalise tells Canada: Make a deal on trade or be left behind

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) said Tuesday that Canada needs to come to a trade agreement with the U.S. or else get left out of the new trade deal with Mexico.

“Mexico negotiated in good faith and in a timely manner, and if Canada does not cooperate in the negotiations, Congress will have no choice but to consider options about how best to move forward and stand up for American workers,” Scalise said in a statement Tuesday.

“While we would all like to see Canada remain part of this three-country coalition, there is not an unlimited amount of time for it to be part of this new agreement,” Scalise explained.

{mosads}Trade talks have been ongoing between the two countries for the past three weeks, but have led to little progress.

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters last Tuesday that a deal was “eminently possible.”

Freeland also insisted that Canda’s primary goal was getting the deal it wanted, rather than meeting the agreed-upon end-of-September deadline. 

Scalise said Tuesday that the GOP will abide by that deadline, whether or not Canada does.

“Congress takes seriously and intends to fully enforce the deadlines established in the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act,” Scalise said.