"Our approach is to hope for the best and prepare for the worst and Canada certainly is prepared for every eventuality," she said.

Mexico, Canada and the United States have been renegotiating NAFTA since August, at the request of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has alleged that the 23-year-old agreement has harmed his country and has threatened to withdraw from it.

The Trump administration wants to raise the minimum threshold for autos to 85 percent North American content from 62.5 percent as well as to require half of vehicle content to be from the United States.

Canada and Mexico as well as all North American carmakers and autoworkers unions oppose both proposals.

The Americans also want to eliminate the dispute-resolution mechanism under NAFTA, which has implications for Canada regarding its ongoing cross-border conflict with Washington over Canadian softwood lumber exports to the U.S. and the Boeing-Bombardier feud that affects both countries' aerospace sectors.

In addition, the United States seeks to have a five-year sunset clause included in NAFTA in which the trade pact could terminate if all three countries fail to renew the revised agreement after five years.

Robertson said that such a clause could discourage investment from companies that typically seek a 15-to-25-year timeframe to realize some returns.

Canada's participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, its trade agreement with the European Union (EU) and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's upcoming trip to China to advance exploratory talks for a trade deal could "send a signal to the U.S. that Canada has other options" for trade agreements, said Robertson.

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