The United States declared the NAFTA countries were nowhere close to a deal, in a statement Thursday designed to douse expectations that an agreement might be just a few minor adjustments away.

Don't expect a NAFTA deal by this week's supposed target date, Mexico's economy minister said Tuesday. Ildefonso Guajardo told his country's Televisa network that he doesn't see a deal happening by Thursday, which the U.S. Congress calls the latest possible date to get a deal.

President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed the possibility Monday of immediately wrapping up a NAFTA deal despite signs of skepticism about whether that goal is feasible.