Ottawa — July 21, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump and his team believe Canadians are “difficult to deal with and unfriendly,” citing Canadians’ reluctance to travel to the United States and provincial bans on American liquor sales, according to U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra.
Speaking at the Pacific Northwest Economic Region Foundation’s annual summit in Bellevue, Washington, Hoekstra made the remarks when asked how cross-border travel could be revived as Vancouver and Seattle prepare to co-host next year’s World Cup. Hoekstra said Canadians’ decision to stay home and block American liquor sales are among the reasons Trump and his advisers view Canada as “unfriendly.” He added that such moves “do not send a positive signal of goodwill toward the U.S.,” but acknowledged that “Canadians have the right to make their own choices.”
Hoekstra also joked that if he wanted, he “could just drive liquor across the border,” noting that vehicles entering Michigan often aren’t checked — a comment that drew laughter from the audience.
The office of British Columbia Premier David Eby shared a recording of Hoekstra’s comments with The Canadian Press. In a statement, Eby said Hoekstra’s remarks show that Canadian pushback against Trump “is working.” He urged Canadians to continue supporting domestic products and vacationing at home, stating: “We will not quietly accept attacks on our jobs, economy, and sovereignty. We stand united and resolute.”
Following Trump’s imposition of steep tariffs on Canadian goods, provinces including British Columbia banned American-made liquor in government-run stores. Many Canadians have also cancelled cross-border trips. Statistics Canada data shows that in March, the number of Canadians returning from the U.S. by land dropped nearly 32% year-over-year, marking the steepest decline since the pandemic, while air travel fell 13.5%.
As of press time, Hoekstra’s office has not issued further comment on the statements.
