U.S. Secretary of State says some of NAFTA 'out of whack,' expects deal in coming weeks

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeowas in DetroitMonday to give a speech about the economy as an auto tariff tiff lingers just across the border.

However, Pompeo made little mention of the NAFTA negotiations with Canada except to say he's confident a deal will be made in the "coming weeks."

Pompeosaid he spoke with his Canadian counterpart, Foreign Affairs Minister ChrystiaFreeland, on Saturday.

"I think she agrees, I'mconvinced when the trade negotiations are complete that there will be more volume, more dollars andgreaterfreedom of trade between the United States andCanada. I'm completely convinced by it," he said.

He added the NAFTAdeal has "things that were out of whack."

'Fundamentally reconsidered'

The secretary acknowledged the importance ofNAFTAfor auto manufacturers in Detroit, sayingthe Trump administration would "level the playing field" for that sector.

Both Detroitand Windsor would be hit byproposed auto tariffs the U.S. presidenthas been pushing for.

"For too long, America has allowed the free trade framework to become distorted, to be advantageous to other countries," Pompeo said.

Other G7 trade relationships were scrutinized, as Pompeo said those needed to be "fundamentally reconsidered."

Last week, as he was en route to Singapore from the G7 summit, President Donald Trumpthreatened to impose tariffs of 25 per cent on Canadian cars.

It was part of his pushback against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's assertion that Canada wouldn't be "pushed around."