4 July: The United States ambassador to Canada has signalled optimism about the ongoing efforts to secure a fresh trade agreement between the two countries, saying it will ultimately benefit both sides—but he declined to commit to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s target date for finalizing the deal.
Speaking from his Ottawa residence, Ambassador Pete Hoekstra said that while the renewed negotiations should deliver a fairer and freer trade arrangement for both Canada and the US, he would not confirm if the talks will wrap up by the proposed July 21 timeline that Canada has set. Prime Minister Carney recently warned that Canada would impose stronger trade countermeasures if an agreement is not reached by then.
“I’m not going to tie this down to a date,” Hoekstra said. “We’re addressing some key areas that we believe will open up trade and make it fairer for both countries.”
Asked whether the deal would include tariffs on Canadian exports to the US, Hoekstra acknowledged that under President Trump’s approach, all trading partners should expect some level of tariff. “The president’s position has been consistent: every country contributes something. But overall, I believe this agreement will be good for both Canada and America.”
Trade tensions have been simmering for months since the US first imposed fresh tariffs on Canadian goods in February. The two nations resumed talks this week after Canada withdrew its digital services tax—something Carney described as part of broader bargaining to secure a final trade accord. Trump, meanwhile, announced that letters outlining new import tariff rates would be sent out to other countries starting this month, but Hoekstra stressed that this approach does not apply to Canada. “We’re not just going to drop a letter in the mail to Canada,” he said, adding that a more detailed, negotiated deal is planned.
Hoekstra described Carney and Trump as maintaining a “very good friendship,” noting they stay in regular contact and communicate often. “They text, they talk. That’s a healthy thing,” he said.
Commenting on President Trump’s occasional remarks about Canada becoming the 51st US state—a notion that has triggered debate in recent months—Hoekstra dismissed it as media speculation. He said the topic has not come up seriously in his talks with Canadians. “If Canadians want to discuss it, that’s up to them,” he said. “In the end, it’s a decision for Canada, not America.”
Despite recent disputes and tariff threats, Hoekstra emphasized that Canada and the US share a strong foundation. He described the trade disagreements as normal tensions between close allies. The ambassador and the US Embassy were also hosting an Independence Day gathering for roughly 2,000 guests in Ottawa, marking the ongoing partnership between the two nations.
“There will always be irritants between friends. But that’s healthy—it means friends can challenge each other,” Hoekstra said. “We have deep ties—economic, personal, and military. We’ve achieved so much together. That’s what we honour on Canada Day and the Fourth of July—our enduring friendship, shared with our families and communities on both sides of the border.”
