By Michael C. Bender 

WASHINGTON -- President Trump said that negotiations have stalled over his attempt to rewrite the North American Free Trade Agreement and that he is no longer in a hurry to overhaul the pact.

At a cabinet meeting on Thursday at the White House, Mr. Trump told the team, including U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, "don't do the deal" unless there was a significant breakthrough in talks. He said there currently were no trade talks with Canada.

"I'm in no rush," Mr. Trump said. "If we don't have a breakthrough, don't do the deal."

Mr. Trump won the 2016 presidential election with a promise to make Nafta "a lot better" for the U.S., or pull out altogether. He has insisted that his team was close to a deal, while also raising issues that could blow up the agreement, such as warning of possible U.S. tariffs on vehicles and auto parts following duties imposed June 1 on steel and aluminum from Canada and Mexico. Trump administration officials have been particularly frustrated with Canada for not making more concessions at the negotiating table.

Write to Michael C. Bender at Mike.Bender@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 16, 2018 13:33 ET (17:33 GMT)