Trump says Canada is being 'very difficult' in NAFTA talks, suggests terminating

U.S. President Donald Trump is again suggesting that NAFTA be terminated, this time saying that both Canada and Mexico are being "very difficult".

While he's threatened to end the trade agreement before, this is the first time Trump has complained about Canada's role in the talks.

Canada, the U.S. and Mexico began formal negotiations earlier this month to rework the 23-year-old trade deal.

When Trump previously threatened to blow up NAFTA, a representative for Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said "heated rhetoric" is common in trade negotiations, but that Canada's priorities remain the same.

Adam Austen said last week that Canada will "continue to work hard to modernize NAFTA," in spite of the threats.

One Canadian politician from southern Ontario was not quite as diplomatic.

Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger said on Twitter that Trump's position in the Oval Office was what needed to be terminated.

"The only thing that needs to be terminated is your presidency," Eisenberger wrote, in response to Trump's latest outburst. "Save yourself and your country. Resign and you will be popular everywhere."

The only thing that needs to be terminated is your presidency. Save yourself and your country. Resign and you will be popular everywhere. https://t.co/XnaB3chEEw

— Fred Eisenberger (@FredEisenberger) August 27, 2017

Experts of trade law say cancelling NAFTA would be complicated: it would prompt a legal showdown between the White House and Congress.

The latter once passed a law implementing NAFTA and could argue it is still on the books, meaning the agreement remains in effect.

Editor's note: This article was updated at 10:35 a.m. on Aug. 28, with comments from the mayor of Hamilton, Ontario.