The Yukon government is supporting the federal government as it begins negotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement. Negotiations on the trade deal among the U.S., Canada and Mexico began Wednesday in Washington.

It was the U.S. that brought forward the negotiations to rewrite the agreement, which was originally signed in 1993.

Barbara Dunlop is the territory’s director of policy, planning and communications of the business and industry development in the Department of Economic Development.

She noted in an interview Wednesday it’s the federal government that’s negotiating for Canada. Thus, the territory won’t be heavily involved with the talks.

That said, the Yukon is supportive of the Canadian government going into the meetings and will be watching as discussions move along for issues that will be of interest to the Yukon.

Among those are issues that could impact trade with Alaska, the mining industry and more, Dunlop said.

About five officials with Economic Development, the Executive Council Office and the government’s legal team are keeping up on the negotiations which are expected to extend well into 2018.

A cabinet spokesperson said Wednesday, the opposition parties will be briefed on negotiations prior to the fall sitting of the legislature. It will begin in early October.

She confirmed the briefings after the Yukon Party released a statement Tuesday criticizing Premier Sandy Silver for not updating the opposition on the Yukon’s position on the deal and any role it would play in the talks.

The party accused the premier of breaking his promise to provide a more timely briefing.