The U.S. Senate confirmed Wednesday that former Dutch ambassador Pete Hoekstra served as Canada’s ambassador, a position he sees as a traditional close link, and President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and comments on annexation have nervous.
With the support of several Democrats and Trump’s Republicans, the vote was 60-37 for confirmation of Hoekstra, who also served as business director and Republican member of the House of Representatives.
Hoekstra, who succeeded David Cohen, confirmed that the relationship between Washington and Ottawa was more tense than it had been for years, a global trade war and hostile rhetoric that sparked diplomatic relations.
U.S. officials initially issued a contradictory statement on whether the benchmark tax rate for all commodities applies to Canada. The White House has confirmed that it will not. Paul Beaudry, former Lieutenant Governor of the Bank of Canada, said it is good news for Canada now, but the Trump administration can still change its mind at any time.
Hoekstra said at a hearing held by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last month that he saw Canada as an independent country and pointed out the close ties between his hometown of Michigan and Ontario.
“Canada is a sovereign state, yes, Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware asked him if he agreed that Canada is a sovereign state, and shouldn’t even be jokingly called the 51st state.
Trump suggested that the United States should annex Canada and repeatedly called it a U.S. state.
Coons is one of the senators who voted against the nomination.
Canada’s “Our Most Valuable Trading Partner”: Hoekstra
All the Republicans present voted to decide Hoekstra, while others represented mainly states that shared the Canadian border, including Gary Peters and Elisa Slotkin of Michigan, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Maine’s Angus King of Maine, who were independents seduced with Democrats.
In a statement, Hoekstra praised Canada as “our most valuable trading partner, our largest source of foreign investment and our largest source of energy imports.”
“As Canadian Ambassador, I will work with the Canadian government to review and strengthen our strong trade partnership, ensure our borders, face the deadly threat of fentanyl to our citizens, and build our national security cooperation,” he said.
Front burner23:09Last tariffs in the United States
Hoekstra, 71, served as Trump’s first term as Dutch ambassador, and his family traced its origins. He previously served in Michigan from 1993 to 2011.
Although appointments are often praised by commercial organizations, global projects against hatred and extremism have previously announced opposition to choices, slamming Hoekstra’s blast on statements in their political careers, but they say reflect “anti-immigration, anti-Muslim and anti-LGBTQ+ perspectives.”
