U.S. Ambassador Clashes with Ontario Trade Rep Over Tariffs

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra engaged in a heated exchange with Ontario’s trade representative, David Paterson, during an event in Ottawa on Monday. According to two sources within the Ontario government, Hoekstra directed insults and profanities at Paterson in response to an Ontario advertisement opposing U.S. tariffs. The incident has highlighted escalating tensions between the two governments over trade issues.

The confrontation occurred at the Canadian American Business Council gathering, shortly after Hoekstra’s keynote address to the Coalition of Concerned Manufacturers and Businesses Canada. During the speech, he expressed skepticism about the prospects of a new security and economic deal between Canada and the United States before the end of the year. “We have stopped negotiations with Canada,” Hoekstra stated. “I don’t see any way that there will be an agreement before American Thanksgiving.”

The diplomatic spat was ignited last week when U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly halted trade discussions with Canada in response to the Ontario anti-tariff advertisement. This ad featured the voice of former Republican President Ronald Reagan and was seen by the Trump administration as a provocation. Following the advertisement’s continued airing in U.S. markets, Trump announced an additional 10 percent tariff on Canadian goods.

Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking to reporters in Malaysia on Monday, noted that trade negotiations had been progressing well until Trump’s reaction to the ad. The Prime Minister emphasized that affected sectors, including steel and aluminum, were making headway prior to the recent escalation.

In defense of the advertisement, Ontario Premier Doug Ford asserted that it had achieved its intended goal, accumulating over one billion impressions and reaching a significant American audience. “We achieved our goal, and our goal is to make sure that we get a fair deal, not a one-sided Donald Trump deal, but a fair deal for the people of Ontario and Canada,” Ford remarked on Monday.

During his remarks at the business council event, Hoekstra attributed the breakdown in relations to Canada, stating, “Canada burnt the bridges with America. Donald Trump did not slam the door.” He also characterized the advertisement as an instance of foreign interference, a point that may resonate as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments regarding the legality of Trump’s tariffs on November 5, 2023.

As tensions rise, the U.S. Embassy in Canada declined to comment when contacted by CTV News. The ongoing situation underscores the fragility of trade relations between the United States and Canada, particularly as both nations prepare for critical discussions ahead.