Canadian anda American flags are pictured at Peace Arch Historical State Park at the USA-Canada border in Blaine, Washington on August 9, 2021. (Photo by Jason Redmond / AFP)
U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said his country and Canada have an “enduring” relationship and that the two should cooperate to counter the threat posed by China.
Hoekstra made the comments during an interview with podcaster Jasmin Laine released on Aug. 12. He spoke on the state of current trade negotiations between the two countries and what factors are having an impact, and mentioned areas where Ottawa and Washington could increase cooperation.
One of these areas is countering China, which is a top priority for the Trump administration.
“We see Canada as being a very reliable ally to confront the threat from China,” Hoekstra said after remarking that defending North America is best accomplished by having an “interchangeable and interoperable system.”
“If Canada wants to do that, we are ready to partner with them, whether it is economically, whether it is militarily, whether it is politically, we will work together on that,” he said.
Hoekstra added the United States also wants China to stop dumping steel, as it undercuts the U.S. and Canadian steel industries.
Canada had followed the U.S. lead under the Biden administration in imposing 25 percent tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum in October 2024, along with imposing a 100 percent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles.
China retaliated against Canada in March by targeting various agricultural and seafood products, at the same time that Trump started imposing various tariffs on Canada.
Ottawa reinforced measures against Chinese steel in mid-July to prevent diversion, imposing an additional 25 percent tariff on steel imports from non-U.S. countries containing steel melted and poured in China.
Further tariffs were imposed on Canada by China this week, announcing on Aug. 12 it would slap 75.8 percent tariffs on Canadian canola. This new development on a trade conflict came while there are currently no short-term prospects for Canada to reach a trade deal with the United States, which would address the various Trump tariffs.
Amid uncertainty in the U.S. relationship and a shifting geopolitical landscape roiled by conflicts, the Canadian government is said to be revisiting its approach to the Indo-Pacific.
“It is important for us to revisit our policy, not only in the Indo-Pacific, but generally speaking,” Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said in July. She mentioned how Ottawa is rebuilding ties with New Delhi “one step at a time,” but didn’t comment on the relationship with Beijing.
Anand did mention the need to “ensure that foreign policy is an extension of domestic interest, and particularly domestic economic interests.”
Some rebuilding of ties between Ottawa and Beijing has taken place, through interactions between Carney and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in June, and between Anand and her Chinese counterpart in Malaysia in July.
After being sworn-in as prime minister in March, Carney had identified China as being Canada’s biggest security threat. He has also called U.S. President Donald Trump positively “transformational” for his approach to China.
Sticking Points
Aside from pushing for cooperation on China, Ambassador Hoekstra discussed on the podcast the climate around ongoing trade talks between Ottawa and Washington.
There has been a dearth of details released publicly on the negotiations, with each side keeping a tight lid on information. “There’s been very few, if any leaks. I think that is great,” Hoekstra said.
The ambassador himself hasn’t been part of the negotiations but said Trump is waiting for “concrete proposals” from the Canadian side, noting how other countries who struck deals had put together a package.
Some of the major deals with Japan, South Korea, and the European Union have included pledges of investments of hundreds of billions of dollars into the United States. Those deals have kept a variety of U.S. tariffs in place, however, with some lower rate adjustment on cars and parts but not on steel and aluminum.
These U.S. trading partners had not retaliated against the United States, contrary to Canada. Hoekstra said Canada’s counter-measures are a “huge irritant.” He also mentioned “Buy Canadian” initiatives and Canadian tourists shunning the United States as issues of concern, both of which have been promoted by political leaders.
Hoekstra also mentioned the review of the F-35 fighter jets purchase from the United States that Ottawa put under review in March. Canada had initially ordered 88 jets and so far acquired 16, but Hoekstra said the review sent the message that “from an American standpoint” Canada has cancelled the order for the remaining planes.
Defence Minister David McGuinty said this week the review is still ongoing. “When the review is completed, we can take our our lead from the experts that perform the review, both in the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces,” he said. “Obviously, it would be strange if they didn’t look at the operational needs going forward.”
Hoekstra said Canada can’t afford to have two different fighter jet platforms given the costs related to training, maintenance, and storage.
“Canada should just decide what they want,” he said. “That’s your decision to make, but you can’t afford both of them. That’s an irritant that makes it harder to get to an agreement,” he said.
Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan has in recent weeks expressed support for Canada to continue purchasing U.S. F-35, noting similar arguments as Hoekstra.