On Wednesday, August 16 the first round of negotations for the North American Free Trade Agreement begin at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, D.C. Negotiations opened with briefs statements by Robert Lighthizer, U.S. Trade Representative, Crystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Canadian Chief Negotiator, and Ildefonso Guajardo, Mexican Secretary of Economy and Chief Negotiator. The first negotiating round is expected to conclude on August 16 and negotiations are expected to continue through at least the early part of 2018.