US Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra has dismissed claims that American tariff policies and presidential rhetoric are specifically targeting Canada.
In an interview with CTV News on Sunday, Hoekstra stated that the recent economic measures are part of a broader international strategy to safeguard domestic growth.
“We put tariffs on every country in the world. We did not take aim at Canada,” he said.
The ambassador emphasized that the trade framework was designed with global market conditions in mind.
“We took a policy that we were implementing on a global basis that we believed we had to put in place to keep America strong and prosperous,” Hoekstra added.
The comments come after the enactment of a 10 percent global tariff on most imports under the Trump administration.
However, most goods covered by the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) remain exempt.
Pre-existing tariffs based on national security grounds continue to affect Canadian exports such as steel, aluminum, copper, and lumber.
In response to ongoing trade pressures, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has pushed to diversify trade partners and implement a “Buy Canadian” federal procurement policy.
Hoekstra noted that the American business community would handle trade disagreements differently than declaring a systemic breakdown.
“We would take a look at our business community, where we’re doing well.
We wouldn’t go to our largest trading partner, and say there’s a rupture, and we’re actually going to be looking somewhere else,” he said.
The ambassador reiterated that the administration remains open to bilateral cooperation despite regional hesitations.
“There were only two countries that responded in a strongly negative way,” Hoekstra said.
He added that the rest of the world has continued to negotiate trade agreements and work on frameworks alongside the United States.
“We did not take aim at Canada,” he stressed.
The upcoming July 1 deadline requires all three CUSMA nations to state whether they intend to renew the trade pact for 16 years or move into an annual review cycle.
Canada and Mexico have formally requested the 16-year extension, but the official stance of the United States remains unconfirmed.
Prime Minister Carney expressed caution regarding negotiation outcomes following Hoekstra’s statements.
“What I have seen with the president is that you’re not close to making a deal, and then you make a deal,” Carney said.
He noted that while deals can manifest suddenly, thorough preparation is necessary to protect national interests.
“It doesn’t mean the deals are good deals, but it means being prepared, having done the work, knowing what you want,” he added.
Canada-US Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc is scheduled to meet with American and Mexican representatives on July 1 for the first official trilateral meeting to review the agreement.
