President Donald Trump’s option to be U.S. ambassador to Canada on Thursday stated that America’s northern neighbor is a sovereign state, displaying some daylight with Trump on the problem. The president has insisted that Canada would be better off as the United States’ newest member.
Former Rep. Pete Hoekstra was requested by at his Senate affirmation listening to by Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., whether or not he agreed that Canada is a sovereign state and should not be “even jokingly known as the 51st state.”
“Canada is a sovereign state, sure,” Hoekstra replied. He was questioned shortly earlier than Trump doubled down on his adverse views of Canada throughout an Oval Workplace look with the top of NATO.
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The Republican president continues to insist that Canada is amongst international locations that make the most of america. He additionally continues to erroneously forged the U.S. commerce deficit with Canada — a pure resource-rich nation that gives the U.S. with commodities like oil — as a subsidy.
“We don’t want their vehicles. We don’t want their power. We don’t want their lumber,” Trump stated. “As a state it will be one of many nice states.”
Trump has rankled Canadians by insisting that their nation develop into the 51st state. The 2 international locations are additionally now embroiled in a commerce battle began by Trump after he slapped tariffs on aluminum, steel and other goods brought in from Canada. In response, Canada is mountain climbing tariffs on a wide range of American imports.
Hoekstra is a former congressman from Michigan who served as U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands in Trump’s first time period.
In his opening assertion, Hoekstra stated that, as somebody from Michigan, “I do have a particular appreciation for Canada as a neighbor.” He stated 36 states view Canada as their No. 1 buying and selling associate and that he regularly interacted with Canada on commerce and different points when he was in Congress.
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