It's been 25 years since Canada reached a free-trade agreement with the US.

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney, who spearheaded Canadian efforts to reach the deal, spoke with "Saturday in Montreal" on CJAD.

He says he decided to pick up the phone after a recommendation from a royal commission.

"I called presiedent Reagan and said I'd like to try this and see if we can't negotiate this kind of agreement, which we did and it's a good thing we did because there's not the slightest chance of us getting that kind of an agreement today because of what's happened, 9/11, the thickening of the border, the hostility in America to a lot of foreigners and the whole concept of buy America", said Mulroney.

Mulroney added a protectionist tide had been sweeping over the US congress prior to the start of talks.

Picture courtesy: urnews.ca