Ambassador says U.S. recognizes Canada's 'progress' in protecting border, tackling fentanyl
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Canada's ambassador to the United States hinted the country might avoid U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs by continuing to tackle illegal migration and fentanyl trafficking.
In an interview on Wednesday with CBC's Power & Politics guest host J.P. Tasker, Ambassador Kirsten Hillman said advisers to the president are "pleased" with Canada's efforts.
She added that "everybody that we're talking to" in Washington suggests Trump's March 4 deadline to impose 25 per cent tariffs on almost all imports from Canada is tied to the country's efforts to fight the scourge of fentanyl and protect the border.
Canada has taken a series of measures in response to the president's concerns, including forging ahead with a $1.3-billion plan to secure the Canada-U.S. border and appointing former senior Mountie Kevin Brosseau as fentanyl czar.
Trump is also threatening to levy additional 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports — including from Canada, its largest importer of the metals — as of March 12.
"There is a recognition that Canada has made important steps and we are doing good work," Hillman said. "Continuing to report on those results is something we're going to be doing over the coming days and weeks as well."
She added that illegal migration from Canada to the U.S. has decreased by nine per cent in recent months.
Tariffs as a negotiation tool
Hillman stressed that Trump dangling tariffs and repeating that Canada should become the 51st state are part of his strategy to make gains on non-trade related matters, such as protecting domestic steel and aluminum — industries that he's interested in supporting.
Part of her job, Hillman said, is to demonstrate that wielding such threats against Canada has "the opposite effect" of what the president is trying to achieve.
"He's a very strategic guy who uses this kind of rhetoric to set the stage for negotiations," she said. "Creating concern in Canada is exactly his goal."
Hillman suggests avoiding escalation to weather the president's tactics — an approach that sharply contrasts former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland's.
WATCH | Hillman says tariffs are linked to Canada ensuring border security:
Will Canada avoid Trump's latest tariff threat on autos?
3 hours ago
Duration 11:30
In late January, the Liberal leadership contender called for the federal government to "immediately publish a detailed, dollar-for-dollar retaliation list" including $200 billion worth of U.S. products that could be subject to Canadian trade action if Trump were to follow through on the threats.
While Hillman wouldn't comment on Freeland's request directly, she cautioned against "escalating rhetoric" with the U.S. administration, saying she doubts that approach would benefit Canadians in the short and medium term.
Instead, she suggests Canada should demonstrate strength and resolve as well as national pride because the president respects that.
"We need to be pragmatic and we need to be able to find a path that helps the president achieve the goals he's trying to achieve in a manner that also benefits Canada," she said.
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