Canada still optimistic on NAFTA talks with US

WASHINGTON, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Tuesday that discussions with the United States about forging a new North American Free Trade Agreement were still constructive, so the two sides agreed to meet again for further negotiations.

Freeland said she spoke with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer over the weekend after their talks ended on Friday, and their teams have had "a lot of contacts" since then.

"We agreed that it would be useful to continue talking today, so we're back for more negotiations," Freeland told reporters as she entered USTR offices in Washington. "The conversations over the weekend continued to be constructive and productive."