It often looked improbable. But after months of negotiations the Mexican government has reached a deal with the US government over a new set of terms for the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta). The announcement has helped to dispel uncertainty over the future of Mexico- US trade relations which had been weighing down on the Mexican economy. Yet the new agreement, which does not currently include fellow Nafta member Canada, is already coming under intense scrutiny amid fears that in its determination to keep Nafta alive, the outgoing government led by President Enrique Peña Nieto has made too many concessions to the US and settled for less-than-favourable terms.