Canada has a brand new U.S. ambassador to type via its strained relations with Washington because the Senate on Wednesday authorised President Donald Trump’s nomination of Peter Hoekstra in a 60-37 vote.
His affirmation as U.S. ambassador to Canada comes at one of the vital difficult occasions in Washington’s lengthy relationship with its northern neighbor after Trump launched a collection of tariffs focusing on Ottawa and repeatedly claimed he believes Canada ought to develop into the U.S.’s 51st state.
However regardless of heightened issues over Trump’s ambitions for Canada, notably amongst Democratic lawmakers, Hoekstra’s Senate confirmation course of was a comparatively clean street.
TRUMP PICKS FORMER CONGRESSMAN PETE HOEKSTRA TO BE AMBASSADOR TO CANADA
Peter Hoekstra, President Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to Canada, attends his Senate Overseas Relations Committee listening to on commerce, safety and different U.S. pursuits. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photos)
“I do have a particular appreciation for Canada as a neighbor,” he advised senators at his affirmation listening to final month.
Following questions from Delaware Democrat Sen. Christopher Coons, Hoekstra affirmed that “Canada is a sovereign state.”
Nevertheless, he declined to touch upon the president’s repeated need to include Canada as the following U.S. state – a proposal Ottawa has persistently rejected.
“How the president and the connection between the previous prime minister in Canada and the traits, the character of that relationship… I don’t know,” he added.
The Michigan lawmaker and former ambassador to the Netherlands throughout President Trump’s first time period referenced his state’s shut ties to Canada throughout his opening remarks final month earlier than the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“My house state is linked to Canada by 4 and shortly to be 5, bridge crossings alongside maritime board, throughout the Nice Lakes, very important lakes that drive companies, jobs and livelihoods in each states,” Hoekstra highlighted. “If confirmed, I’ll work tirelessly to construct on that document of cooperation prolonged, clearly nationally.”
A truck with automobiles crosses the Blue Water Bridge border into the USA from Sarnia, Canada on April 3, 2025. (Geoff Robins/AFP through Getty Photos)
Canada is the U.S.’s largest buying and selling associate and the primary purchaser of U.S. items.
“I believe there’s 36 states that see Canada as their primary buying and selling associate internationally,” Hoekstra confirmed.
The U.S. can also be, by far, Canada’s largest buying and selling associate and prime purchaser of Canadian items, however Trump has repeatedly referred to as the connection “unfair.”
In 2023, the U.S. imported some $443 billion price of products, accounting for 72% of all Canadian exports, whereas Canada imported $317 billion U.S. items, accounting for 49% of Ottawa’s complete imports.
TRUMP SAYS CANADA WOULD HAVE NO TARIFFS AS 51ST STATE, AS OBSERVERS BRACE FOR TRADE WAR
Trump applauds after Howard Lutnick was sworn in as U.S. commerce secretary within the Oval Workplace on the White Home on Feb. 21, 2025. (Win McNamee/Getty Photos)
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In response, Trump slapped Ottawa with a blanket 25% tariff on all Canadian imports in a transfer to dissuade American shoppers from buying Canadian items, apart from power imports, which noticed a ten% tariff.
Moreover, Trump introduced a 25% tariff on all imported automobiles and elements, which will even drastically have an effect on Canada as cars are a chief export merchandise to the U.S.
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