During an appearance on ABC News’ “This Week” on Sunday, the Canadian Ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, expressed the sentiments of her country regarding President Donald Trump’s recent tariff decisions. According to Hillman, Canadians are feeling a mix of confusion and disappointment in response to Trump’s announcement of imposing tariffs. White House officials declared over the weekend that Trump has authorized a 25% tariff on goods coming from Mexico and Canada, as well as a 10% tariff on products originating from China. The threat of imposing tariffs had been looming over Canada and Mexico for some time, with Trump using it as leverage to secure their cooperation in curbing illegal immigration and the influx of fentanyl into the U.S.
The implementation of these tariffs is scheduled for Tuesday, but Hillman stated that the Canadian government is actively engaging in discussions with the Trump administration to address the situation. “We’re hopeful that they don’t come into effect on Tuesday,” Hillman remarked. “We’re prepared to continue our dialogue with the Trump administration, particularly regarding the collaborative efforts we have undertaken both with them and independently concerning border issues.”
Hillman mentioned that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump have previously conversed about Canada’s strategies to comply with some of the demands made by the U.S. government. These discussions have been ongoing between the two administrations, including engagement with senior officials at the White House. “While there haven’t been recent conversations, the topic has been previously broached, and we have presented our plan, along with the outcomes and achievements resulting from our actions, to the president,” Hillman disclosed.
In response to the tariffs imposed by the U.S., Trudeau announced on Saturday that Canada would retaliate by implementing 25% tariffs on U.S. goods amounting to $155 billion Canadian dollars (approximately $107 billion U.S. dollars). Trudeau mentioned that he has not had any direct communication with Trump since his inauguration.
Hillman expressed concerns about the negative impact of the proposed tariffs on the longstanding successful trade relationship between Canada and the U.S. “It’s crucial for the Canadian people to see their government stand firm and defend their interests,” she emphasized. “Although we are not seeking escalation, there is a strong expectation for our government to uphold the agreements we have made with the United States.”
Asserting the confusion and hurt felt by Canadians in light of these developments, Hillman underscored the significance of the historically harmonious relationship between the U.S. and Canada. She described Trump’s actions as a significant departure from this shared sense of purpose. “This is not a course of action Canada desires,” Hillman stated firmly. “We have no interest in pursuing this path. We value and aim to continue being one of your most significant trade partners.”
The sentiments of bewilderment and dismay among Canadians regarding Trump’s tariffs were highlighted by the Ambassador to the U.S., as reported on abcnews.go
