Canada's former PM Harper lashes out at Trudeau government over NAFTA negotiations

Regarding the NAFTA negotiations, Harper told media: "I fear that the NAFTA re-negotiation is going very badly. I also believe that President (Donald) Trump's threat to terminate NAFTA is not a bluff … I believe this threat is real. Therefore, Canada's government needs to get its head around this reality: it does not matter whether current American proposals are worse than what we have now."

"What matters in evaluating them is whether it is worth having a trade agreement with the Americans or not" the former PM added.

Apart from the negotiations, Harper criticised the federal government on a host number of issues.

He criticised the Trudeau government for rejecting the proposals of the US too early, negotiating along with Mexico and also putting forward the progressive priorities like aboriginal and environment issues.

However, the Canadian government did not approve Harper's comments.

Reacting to Harper's comments, foreign affairs minister, Chrystia Freeland, said: "We don't agree w former PM Harper's advice. We will continue to defend Canadian interests. Capitulation is not a negotiating strategy #NAFTA."

Canada is presently negotiating with the US regarding the NAFTA, an agreement which came into force from January 1994 by Canada, Mexico and United States creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America.

For almost two years, US President Trump criticised the agreement and also hinted to take some serious steps being in the administration or at least send some ultimatums.

Both Canada and the US differ in the climate change.

The US has already announced their withdrawal from the Paris Climate and the process of coming out from it is underway.

On the other hand, Canada wants a new NAFTA with a reference to the global climate issues and make necessary steps to tackle them.

In the negotitations, Canada is working for a better labour and environmental provisions.

Both Canada and the US are in favour of making an environment agreement in the new NAFTA instead of designing a separate deal.

The two nations also want to make certain provisions to prevent NAFTA nations from violating the rules for the sake of drawing investments.

(Reporting by Suman Das)