U.S. ambassador to Canada blasts 'elbows up' anti-American rhetoric in Halifax remarks

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra blasted anti-American rhetoric at a Halifax Chamber of Commerce event Thursday, saying he is disappointed that many Canadians are not passionate about the U.S.-Canada relationship. Hoekstra, who moved to Ottawa in April to serve as ambassador, urged renewed warmth and engagement in a partnership that remains deeply integrated economically and strategically.

Hoekstra singled out the so-called 'elbows up' boycott campaign, describing it as an anti-American campaign that has persisted despite broad cooperation on energy, automotive, nuclear power and defense. He said the slogan and the mood it captures have continued to strain the relationship, a view that drew pushback from some Canadians online, where critics argued the remarks misread the state of the bilateral ties.

Hoekstra told The Associated Press earlier in the week at an Ottawa event hosted by the Canadian International Council that Americans had hoped to negotiate a bigger deal with Canada under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), spanning sectors such as energy, automotive, nuclear power, and defense. He said, 'It’s obvious, at least at this point in time, that that’s not going to happen.'

Earlier, at the Halifax stop, Hoekstra reiterated that the current political climate makes broader concessions unlikely, and he warned that the momentum to expand bilateral ties has stalled. He cited the online backlash and political rhetoric on both sides as evidence that the two economies and security interests are deeply intertwined but currently impeded by mutual distrust and divergent political pressures. The remarks come as Washington seeks to recalibrate alliances and trade in a climate of global competition and domestic political sensitivity, although the bilateral framework under CUSMA remains the backbone of cross-border commerce.

The episode underscores the fragility of political goodwill toward a long-standing trading partner even as real-world ties persist. The United States and Canada remain each other’s largest trading partners, with cross-border supply chains in energy, automotive, and technology sectors continuing to function, even as officials debate how to strengthen cooperation in defense, energy security, and critical minerals. Hoekstra's comments, while controversial, reflect a broader debate about how to balance strong economic integration with political rhetoric in an era of heightened partisanship.