Thread by @MariekeWalsh

.@cafreeland arrives to say a lot of work was done today, she had two meetings w PM and also a phone call with US Trade Rep Lighthizer. Canadian Amb to US and top Canadian negotiator are both returning to Washington tonight #cdnpoli

Freeland will not be returning to Washington at this point says she will keep in touch w negotiators and they are in a “continuous” negotiation at this point #cdnpoli

Asked if why she isn’t going to DC is because talks are at a stale mate, Freeland says “absolutely not” saying currently negotiators need to tackle some technical issues #cdnpoli

In French, Freeland says she had a good meeting with Lighthizer today, but to have a productive next meeting she says technical talks need to be worked out. She stresses the complexity of the talks #cdnpoli

Freeland repeats the need for a good deal not a bad deal, she says today they are in a place where a good deal for all three countries is “achievable” #cdnpoli

Freeland is asked if two briefings with the PM means they’re down to the short strokes on some of the key issues, Freeland says truism of trade talks is nothing is done until everything is done, but says over past weeks there’s been a better understanding #cdnpoli

Freeland makes a point of saying Lighthizer has been negotiating in good faith #cdnpoli

Freeland refuses to answer Q on whether Canada will protect Class 7 pricing in supply management. She says the trust in current negotiations with the US is based on promise to not negotiate in public #cdnpoli

In response to concerns raised by Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe about the idea that no deal is better than a bad deal, Freeland repeats her government’s perspective that no deal is better than a bad deal #cdnpoli