Hoekstra Is 'Optimistic' About Future US-Canada Relations

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 05/28/2025) U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said Wednesday he is optimistic about future relations between the two countries, but he warned that there are “pebbles in the shoe” obstacles that need to be worked out.  

Hoekstra said at today's Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference that both Canada and the United States agree they need to come to a resolution on a trade deal.  

“That gives me optimism,” Hoekstra said.    

Despite his hopefulness, the ambassador acknowledged there will be some obstacles the countries have to overcome to get to that point. “It won’t be easy,” and “there might be some speed bumps,” he said.    

Flags of Canada and the United States

Chief among the “pebbles” Hoekstra referenced during his address was a lack of a pro-U.S. trade attitude in the Canadian administration.  

He cited Canadian provinces banning the sale of American alcohol, calling the policy “outrageous” and laws prohibiting American companies from bidding on certain government contracts as examples of this attitude. One Canadian border patrol agent told him they conduct searches for American goods on people returning to Canada from the U.S. to impose tariffs on the items.  

Despite these obstacles, Hoekstra said he believes the two countries can move on fairly quickly and get beyond these issues.  

Canada has expressed interest in being a part of Trump’s proposed Golden Dome Security Initiative, a missile defense system, Hoekstra said, signaling there might be hope for some cooperation between the countries.  

“I think the President, and from what I’m hearing from my Canadian sources, is that the President and the Prime Minister would like to get a resolution sooner, rather than later,” Hoekstra said in response to moderator Rick Albin of WOOD-TV asking if the ambassador thinks the process will be short or long-term. He referenced the Michigan, as well as the broader U.S. and Canadian, jobs at stake if they do not work out an agreement.