Shaheen op-ed flags trade and defense risks in U.S.-Canada ties

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Shaheen flags U.S.-Canada risks

Highlights

Shaheen calls for ending tariffs between the U.S. and Canada, citing rising trade frictions that are raising cross-border business costs and weakening tourism.
Canada's reconsideration of its planned purchase of 88 U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets and pursuit of EU defense procurement signal declining confidence in Washington's reliability.
Canadian trade links with China are strengthening, as seen in a recent agreement to import 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles at favorable tariff rates and reciprocal export concessions.

Op-ed argues for repairing bilateral ties

As reported by U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, citing Senate Committee on Finance Minority Press, Shaheen published an op-ed in the Globe and Mail calling for a stronger U.S.-Canada relationship as trade frictions and political tensions rise ahead of the centennial of formal diplomatic ties in 2027.

Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, says New Hampshire is already feeling the fallout because Canada is the state’s largest trading partner and communities on both sides of the border maintain close business and family links. She argues that tariffs are raising costs for cross-border goods, while destinations that depend on Canadian visitors are seeing tourism weaken.

The senator frames the current strain against a longer history of economic and security cooperation, including NORAD, deep trade integration and past Canadian support for the U.S. during major crises. She says the relationship should be entering its second century from a position of strength, not facing what she describes as one of its lowest points in generations.

Trade war concerns extend to defense and supply chains

Shaheen argues that the damage goes beyond commerce and is beginning to affect shared security planning. In her op-ed, she points to Canada’s reconsideration of its planned purchase of 88 U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets and to Ottawa’s search for alternative partners as signs that confidence in Washington is weakening.

She says Europe is emerging as one option, citing Canada’s participation this year in the European Union’s SAFE defense procurement program. She also points to stronger trade links with China, including a recent Canadian agreement to import 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles at favorable tariff rates and lower Chinese tariffs on several Canadian exports.

Shaheen says Congress should help build a more durable framework for the bilateral relationship beyond any one administration. Her proposed starting point is ending tariffs that are hurting businesses and consumers on both sides of the border, while pursuing new trade opportunities and reinforcing joint security ties.

In our earlier article on Malaysia-China technology and knowledge transfer proposals, we covered how Beijing and Kuala Lumpur discussed expanding cooperation beyond traditional investment into areas like the East Coast Rail Link, the electric vehicle sector, and new development financing. We also noted that the talks touched on broader geopolitical coordination, including China’s support for Malaysia’s BRICS bid, highlighting how economic ties can spill over into longer-term strategic alignment.

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