Hoekstra accuses Canada of meddling in U.S. politics, says restarting trade talks ‘not going to be easy’

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra continued to lash out against the ad campaign that infuriated his president and abruptly ended trade negotiations while on stage in Ottawa Wednesday, accusing Canada of interfering in “electoral politics” south of the border. 

He suggested that the timing of the ad amounted to foreign meddling.

“Targeting the president of the United States and his policies 10 days before an election, in a couple of weeks before a Supreme Court case would be heard,” he said.

“You do not come into America and start running political ads, government-funded political ads … and expect that there will be no consequences or reaction from the United States of America and the Trump administration.”

Hoekstra appeared to be referring to the gubernatorial and mayoral races earlier this month. That same week the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on Trump’s unprecedented use of an emergency powers law to slap broad tariffs on imports from Canada and other major trading partners.

Hoekstra, who has made his reputation as an outspoken envoy during a particularly tense time in the Canada-U.S. relationship,  was speaking to the National Manufacturing Conference when — while answering questions about a critical mineral agreement between the two countries and the larger trade deal — he paused.

‘“Here, I’ll just get myself in trouble,” he said before launching into his most detailed public rant against the TV spots since they aired. 

The Ontario government-backed campaign featured clips of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs.

See the anti-tariff ad Doug Ford has been airing in the U.S.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford agreed to pause the ad campaign — but not before it ran during the World Series. Trump cut off trade talks and promised even more punitive tariffs on Canadian goods.

“I go around the country and people will say, Pete you just don’t understand why we’re so mad about the 51st state and it’s kind of like, yeah, you’re right, I don’t,” Hoekstra said, referencing Trump’s repeated comments about wanting to annex Canada.

He compared that to conversations in Canada questioning how “the president got mad about an ad.”

“If Canada wants to insert itself and create a new precedent that you’re going to participate in our electoral politics, through advertising targeting the president of the United States and his policies, I just I would, I would suggest that you seriously consider whether that is the best way to try to achieve your objectives in the United States of America,” he said.

Hoekstra ridiculed people who point out the ad was backed by the Ontario government and not the federal government.

“I’m sorry, we don’t go through that slicing and dicing,” he said.  

He also alluded to his now well-publicized tirade last month at an event in Ottawa.

According to multiple witness sources, Hoekstra delivered an expletive-laced rant directed at Ontario’s trade representative David Paterson at a Canadian American Business Council gathering in the capital. Sources at the event spoke with CBC News on the condition that they not be named.

One witness said Hoekstra could be heard using the F-word and also mentioned Ontario Premier Doug Ford by name.

Doug Ford says he’ll pause anti-tariff ad that angered Trump

On Wednesday the ambassador said he “was kind of passionate” that “the deal got blown up.” 

He said the strategy was to put “wins on the board” for both countries and then “move on” to other issues.

Asked if negotiations will start up again, Hoekstra said he thinks they can.

“But it’s not going to be easy,” he said.

Carney said he saw the ad before it aired and told Ford that he didn’t think it was a good idea. The prime minister apologized to Trump at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.

Hoekstra also told the audience that Canada should expect tariffs to remain, while suggesting the president could be willing to lower them — pointing to a trade pact the U.K.

“I’ve talked with the Canadian government and encouraged them to just really work closely with us in going through that process and get into the lowest tariff bucket that the United States of America will have,” he said.

“I think once we get to an agreement, these tariffs will come down. Hopefully sooner rather than later.”