Following their meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday, a delegation of US senators expressed optimism about mending bilateral ties and negotiating a new trade and security agreement.
It is “encouraged by what we’ve heard today and I’m encouraged by what we’re seeing in terms of moving forward together,” stated North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer, a Republican.
Senior Canadian ministers for national security, industry, and foreign affairs met with Carney, along with Democrats Jeanne Shaheen, Amy Klobuchar, Tim Kaine, and Peter Welch, who all represent states that border Canada.
“We hope that this meeting will continue very positive discussions toward ensuring that some of the cracks that appeared in the relationship in recent months are healed and we move forward together,” Shaheen told a news conference.
Canada-US relations withered in recent months after US President Donald Trump slapped punishing tariffs on Canadian goods including automobiles, steel and aluminum, and mused about making Canada the 51st US state.
Canada sends three-quarters of its exports to the United States, and Canadians have been angered by the tariffs and rhetoric, leading many to boycott US goods and travel.
Since then, Canada has halted some countermeasures for six months, while Trump has frozen some US tariffs pending negotiations.
However, the most recent jobs report demonstrates that the tariffs are already hurting Canada’s economy and raising market volatility.
According to the US senators, Americans have also been negatively impacted by the tense relationship, particularly in areas that border Canada.
“Every single day, we feel it. We know it’s been bad,” Klobuchar commented. “But we just want to get to a better place, and that’s why we’re here today.”
There are tremendous opportunities to grow both economies, she added, “if we stick together.”
Cramer suggested that Canada and the United States close ranks against China, which he described as the number one threat to North America.
“Therein lies what I believe to be one of the greatest opportunities to heal this relationship, because we can unite around that common adversary with our integrated supply chains and some of the unique qualities of each country,” he said.
“We don’t have as much potash as y’all do, we don’t have the critical minerals that Canada does,” Cramer added.
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