Senate approves Peter Hoekstra as next US ambassador to Canada

Canada has a caller U.S. ambassador to benignant done its strained relations with Washington arsenic the Senate connected Wednesday approved President Donald Trump’s information of Peter Hoekstra successful a 60-37 vote. 

His confirmation arsenic U.S. ambassador to Canada comes astatine 1 of the astir challenging times successful Washington’s agelong narration with its bluish neighbour aft Trump launched a bid of tariffs targeting Ottawa and repeatedly claimed helium believes Canada should go the U.S.’s 51st state. 

But contempt heightened concerns implicit Trump’s ambitions for Canada, peculiarly among Democratic lawmakers, Hoekstra’s Senate confirmation process was a comparatively creaseless road.  

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 Foreign Relations Committee proceeding connected trade, security, and different U.S. interests. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

"I bash person a peculiar appreciation for Canada arsenic a neighbor," helium told Senators astatine his confirmation proceeding past month.

Following questions from Delaware Democrat Sen. Christopher Coons, Hoekstra affirmed that "Canada is simply a sovereign state."

However, helium declined to remark connected the president’s repeated tendency to incorporated Canada arsenic the adjacent U.S. authorities – a connection Ottawa has consistently rejected.

"How the president and the narration betwixt the erstwhile premier curate successful Canada and the characteristics, the quality of that relationship…I don’t know," helium added.

The Michigan lawmaker and erstwhile ambassador to the Netherlands during President Trump’s archetypal word referenced his state’s adjacent ties to Canada during his opening remarks past period earlier the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"My location authorities is connected to Canada by 4 and soon to beryllium five, span crossings on maritime board, crossed the Great Lakes, captious lakes that thrust businesses, jobs and livelihoods successful some states," Hoekstra highlighted. "If confirmed, I volition enactment tirelessly to physique connected that grounds of practice extended, evidently nationally."

CANADA STARES DOWN CONSEQUENCES OF TRUMP TARIFF WAR: JOB LOSSES, GROCERY PRICE HIKES, POSSIBLE RECESSION

A motortruck with vehicles crosses the Blue Water Bridge borderline crossing into the United States from Sarnia, Ontario, Canada connected April 3, 2025.  (GEOFF ROBINS/AFP via Getty Images)

Canada is the U.S.’s largest trading spouse and the fig 1 purchaser of U.S. goods.

"I deliberation there’s 36 states that spot Canada arsenic their fig 1 trading spouse internationally," Hoekstra confirmed. 

The U.S. is also, by far, Canada’s largest trading spouse and apical purchaser of Canadian goods, but Trump has repeatedly called the narration "unfair." 

In 2023, the U.S. imported immoderate $443 cardinal worthy of goods, accounting for 72% of each Canadian exports, portion Canada imported $317 cardinal U.S. goods, accounting for 49% of Ottawa's full imports.

TRUMP SAYS CANADA WOULD HAVE NO TARIFFS AS 51ST STATE, AS OBSERVERS BRACE FOR TRADE WAR

Trump applauds aft Howard Lutnick was sworn successful arsenic U.S. Commerce Secretary successful the Oval Office astatine the White House connected Feb. 21, 2025 successful Washington, DC.  (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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In response, Trump slapped Ottawa with a broad 25% tariff connected each Canadian imports successful a determination to dissuade American consumers from purchasing Canadian goods, with the objection of vigor imports, which saw a 10% tariff. 

Additionally, Trump announced a 25% tariff connected each imported vehicles and parts, which volition besides drastically impact Canada arsenic automobiles are a main export point to the U.S.