US President-elect Donald Trump chose a former member of Congress from Michigan as ambassador for his next administration to Canada.
Trump said in a statement that Pete Hoekstra will help him “once again put America first.”
Hoekstra thanked Trump on the X social media platform, saying he was honored by the opportunity.
It still needs to be confirmed by the US Senate.
https://twitter.com/petehoekstra/status/1859405210772439120
Hoekstra served as US ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump’s first term as president.
The current US envoy to Canada, David Cohen, has held this position since 2021.
Louise Blaise, Canada’s former ambassador to the United Nations, said the nomination coming early in the transition process is “a good sign for Canada-US relations.”
“In the announcement, I also note the president-elect’s positive comments on the USMCA with Canada and Mexico,” said Blaise, a senior special adviser to the Business Council of Canada.
Get breaking national news
For news affecting Canada and around the world, sign up to get breaking news alerts delivered to you right as they happen.
Trump said in his statement that he had reformed its predecessor, NAFTA, which he described as “disastrous” and “the worst trade deal in the history of the United States.”
He said the new agreement brought trade with Mexico and Canada to a “level playing field.”
A former ambassador to Canada in the Obama administration said Hoekstra’s appointment should be good news for Canada-US relations.
Bruce Heyman, who held the position from 2014 to 2017 and describes it as the best job in the U.S. government, said on X that Hoekstra is experienced and will have first-hand knowledge and understanding of Canada because he is from a border state.
Heyman also said the early nomination shows the importance of the relationship between the two countries.
& Edition 2024 The Canadian Press
