Premier Brian Pallister and the other 12 premiers in Canada have met in order to reduce trade barriers between the provinces and territories.

The update on the "trade front" came at a press conference in Winnipeg Thursday afternoon.

Pallister said he made it clear at these talks that Manitoba was open and willing to reduce their barriers. He believes this willingness helped move the discussion forward with the other premiers.

"I was really impressed," said Pallister, "with the premiers of the other jurisdictions and their willingness to set aside some of the natural tendencies we all have to defend the parochial interests of our own jurisdiction, and to take a look at what is in the best interest in the country as a whole."

The new trade deal, which is not yet drafted, between the provinces and territories essentially makes it easier for businesses to operate across borders with fewer imposed limitations and regulations.

The premier also brought up the American presidential race and repeatedly framed the candidates as hostile to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Both Hillary Clinton (Dem.) and Donald Trump (Rep.) have said they'll rewrite NAFTA, with Trump saying, during an interview on 60 Minutes last year, that he may even break the agreement which has been law since Jan. 1, 1994.

"We need fair trade. Not free trade. We need fair trade. It's got to be fair," said Trump during the interview.

Pallister addressed this attitude of the presidential candidates with a desire to be an economically-unified-country.

"We have to make sure, if we expect trade to be enhanced with the United States that we enhance it among our own members of this confederation."

There is no word yet on when the agreement will be drafted, but Pallister gave assurances that it would not be a drawn-out process

"There's a clear goal to get it done, said Pallister. "I wouldn't want to apply a deadline right now because it [has] tremendous complexity, but I'm happy that something that, two decades ago was first developed is making such a step forward."