‘The most controversial U.S. ambassador in history’

When asked if he would use military force against his northern neighbour, the president said “economic force” would be his preference, and encouraged getting rid of the “artificially drawn line” between the countries. Meanwhile, Trump imposed 35-per-cent tariffs on goods not covered by the countries’ free-trade agreement, as well as crushing new tariffs on aluminum, steel, copper and lumber that also apply to other nations. Despite Hoekstra’s suggestion that the president wanted “freer, fairer” trade, Trump has touted tariffs as a way to shift jobs to the States, and said the U.S. simply does not need most of what Canada exports.