‘Positive Conversations’: Minister Joly Meets With Republican Senators in Washington

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly speaks to reporters at the Liberal caucus retreat in Nanaimo, B.C., on Sept. 10, 2024. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

Ottawa’s plan to engage with the next U.S. administration moved forward this week with Foreign Affairs Minster Mélanie Joly meeting with Republican politicians while visiting Washington.

At the end of her visit, Joly said she had met with “many” senators, with the main topics discussed including the countries’ trade relationship, shared border, and Arctic foreign policy.

Joly reiterated that Ottawa has a “good plan” for dealing with the incoming administration, telling reporters at the Canadian embassy in the U.S. capital that the first step is ensuring lines of communication are open.

Joly said the many senators she met have been “clear” that the trade relationship with Canada is “very, very important.” They’ve also noticed Canada is taking steps to protect its market on national security grounds against “back door” trade practices by China.

“And so based on that, I think that we’re having positive conversations, but we'll continue to engage,” the minister said.

China’s use of Mexico as a transshipment hub to send its products into North America has been cited as a reason by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to renegotiate the Canada-U.S.-Mexico free trade deal (CUSMA).

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also said last week there are “concerns around the level of Chinese investment in Mexico that I think need to be addressed.”

Ottawa has already moved to deal with Chinese overcapacity by announcing in August it was imposing 25 percent tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminium, as well as 100 tariffs on China-made electric vehicles. The move followed a similar announcement by the U.S. months earlier.

Canada may also seek to protect itself from tariffs under the new U.S. administration, after Trump said on the campaign trail he would impose 10 percent tariffs on U.S. imports. During his first term, the Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum and Ottawa retaliated. The issue was settled almost a year later.

Joly was asked by reporters whether she expects Canada will benefit from an exemption from the Trump’s proposed tariffs. She said Canada has a good trading relationship with the U.S. and noted Trump’s recent pick for the role of U.S. ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra.

Joly said the different U.S. senators she spoke to agreed that Trump signalled the importance of the Canada-U.S. trade relationship in choosing Hoekstra. The foreign minister said she met with Republican Senators Rick Scott, Lindsey Graham, and Lisa Murkowski.

Joly said Trump’s statement on Hoekstra’s appointment also mentioned “the strength” of CUSMA, which she noted was negotiated under Prime Minster Justin Trudeau. “Our goal is to make sure that we continue to abide by this important trade deal we have with the U.S.,” she said.

Hoekstra served as ambassador to the Netherlands under the previous Trump administration. He previously spent almost 20 years as a House representative in Congress.

“In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in announcing his choice for Hoekstra.

Joly said she will also be meeting with other senators at the Halifax International Security Forum which starts on Nov. 22, including Republican Jim Risch.