Canadian Ambassador to the US Resigns as Trade Talks Loom
After serving as Canada’s ambassador to the US for six years, Kirsten Hillman announced her resignation, citing the need for someone to oversee talks about the upcoming review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement in 2026.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney praised Hillman for laying the groundwork for the upcoming review of the trade agreement.
Hillman, appointed by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2017, was the first woman to hold the position. She played a key role in trade negotiations during former US President Donald Trump’s first term and in securing the release of two detained Canadians in China.
Carney highlighted Hillman’s significant tenure as one of the longest-serving ambassadors to the United States in Canada’s history.
Dominic LeBlanc, the minister responsible for Canada-US trade, and Hillman had been leading trade talks with US officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
US Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra commended Hillman for her contributions to the US-Canada relationship, calling her an “awesome and well-respected” figure.
Trade tensions between the US and Canada have been strained, with Trump halting talks after an anti-tariff advertisement upset him. However, Carney aims to double non-US trade over the next decade, emphasizing the importance of diversifying Canada’s trade partnerships.
Canada is heavily reliant on trade, with a significant portion of its exports going to the US. The USMCA trade agreement, which governs much of this trade, is set for review, raising questions about the future of the economic relationship between the two countries.
With Canada being a major supplier of crucial resources like crude oil, steel, aluminum, and uranium to the US, the economic ties between the two nations remain vital. Additionally, Canada’s significant role in supplying critical minerals and metals for national security purposes further underscores the importance of the US-Canada relationship.
