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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.
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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.
