WASHINGTON (WCAX) – New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen confronted U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Wednesday over his recent disparaging comments about Canada.
Lutnick appeared before a subcommittee defending the Trump administration’s 2027 budget, as well as comments he made last week about the progress of Canada trade talks. He said Canadian efforts to slow down trade talks with the U.S. “is like the worst strategy I’ve ever heard. They suck,” The Hill reported.
“How does insulting our closest ally and neighbor help the businesses in my state of New Hampshire and states all across this country who are hurting because of the loss of Canadian business and tourism?” Shaheen asked.
“Canada’s economy leans on the 30, the incredible $30 trillion economy of America,” Lutnick said.
“There’s no doubt about that, Mr. Secretary, but insulting our closest ally and neighbor, who provides a lot of business. We have a lot of businesses in New Hampshire, small businesses who work on both sides of the border. We have all those Canadian visitors who are not coming because of your comments and comments by the administration. How does that help our economy?” Shaheen said.
A Commerce Department spokesperson later told media outlets that Lutnick’s Canada comments were “misquoted.”
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