Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump's criticism of the slow pace of talks to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement, saying Canadians were tough negotiators, NY Times reported.

"The Americans are finding that the negotiations are tough because Canadians are tough negotiators, as we should be," Trudeau told reporters on the way into a regular weekly cabinet meeting in Ottawa.

"But a good fair deal is still very possible. We won't sign a bad deal for Canadians," he added, declining to answer when asked whether Trump had lied about rejecting a private meeting. Trudeau's office said no such conversation had been requested.