America’s top diplomat in Canada is pushing back against what he calls “anti-American” language creeping into cross-border discussions.
Speaking at a Halifax Chamber of Commerce luncheon, U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra criticized the popular Canadian phrase “elbows up,” calling it hostile and unnecessarily adversarial. He also dismissed the use of the term “trade war” to describe the current economic tensions between Canada and the U.S.
“If we were truly at war, Canada wouldn’t be enjoying what is effectively the best tariff rate in the world,” Hoekstra said, suggesting that the two countries’ trading relationship remains fundamentally strong despite disputes.
The comments come as Canada, the U.S., and Mexico prepare for next year’s major review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), with negotiations already quietly taking shape.
Hoekstra’s remarks contrasted with those of Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, who earlier this week lamented that Washington had “turned its back on Canada” by triggering what Ottawa has called a trade war.