The U.S. ambassador to Canada offered an upbeat outlook on ongoing trade negotiations between the two nations, expressing confidence that a mutually beneficial agreement is within reach.
Speaking at an Independence Day celebration in Ottawa, Ambassador Pete Hoekstra emphasized the positive trajectory of talks between President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
“We’ve got two leaders negotiating on behalf of their countries,” Hoekstra told attendees. “I’m confident that when it’s over, each of them will be able to go back to their people and say, ‘We got a great deal.’ And that means a win-win for both the U.S. and Canada.”
The three-way trade pact between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico — signed during Trump’s first term — remains in place, but tensions have risen due to the administration’s decision to impose steep import tariffs: 50% on foreign steel and aluminum, along with duties on automobiles. Canada, a major exporter of all three, responded with retaliatory tariffs on tens of billions of dollars’ worth of U.S.-made goods, including vehicles and consumer products.
However, since taking office in March, Prime Minister Carney has taken a more restrained approach. Despite Trump’s recent escalation of tariffs on steel and aluminum, Carney has so far held off on additional retaliation.
The two leaders have agreed to a July 21 deadline to finalize a new trade agreement.
Hoekstra, a former Michigan congressman whose home state relies heavily on Canadian trade, remained optimistic. “We’re going to get through this,” he said. “And when we’re done, we’ll be stronger and better than when we started.”
