U.S. senator 'more optimistic' about NAFTA after Trump meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump (L-R), flanked by Senator John Thune (R-SD) and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), takes the stage to address the Republican congressional retreat at the Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, U.S. February 1, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican U.S. Senator John Cornyn said following a White House meeting on Wednesday that he is "more optimistic" that President Donald Trump will not terminate the North American Free Trade Agreement and will push ahead with talks to modernize the trade pact.

Cornyn told Reuters that Senate Finance Committee Republicans emphasized NAFTA's importance to the U.S. economy during the meeting with Trump and cautioned against trade moves that would reverse economic progress fostered by the tax cuts passed by Republicans in December.

Asked if he thought Trump would heed warnings not to terminate NAFTA, he said: "I'm more optimistic."

(Reporting by David LawderEditing by Jonathan OatisRBR)