Trade Talks Stalled, Canadian Ambassador To US Resigns

PHOTO via X @KirstenHillmanA

JAKARTA - Canadian Ambassador to the United States, totaling Hillman, said he would resign early next year as Ottawa and Washington are still experiencing deadlocks in important trade talks.

In a post on X on Wednesday (10/12) evening local time, Hillman said there was no "perfect time" to leave a position like this, and he was grateful for the trust given him "when the Canadian-US relations were being rewritten."

Hillman has served as ambassador to the United States since March 2020. He also played a central role in the renegotiation of the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) in 2017.

CUSMA is currently undergoing a mandatory review, and US President Donald Trump recently gave a signal he might choose not to extend it.

In a statement, Hillman said he would "stay available" to support the move by Canadian negotiators over the coming months.

"While there will never be the perfect time to leave, this is the right time to put a team that will ensure CUSMA's review is complete," he said as quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, Thursday, December 11.

Trade tensions between Canada and the US have risen in recent months after Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian goods and then stopped talks due to Canadian anti-rate ads broadcast in the US.

Although many Canadian and Mexican officials, as well as US business people support the extension of the agreement, Trump has stated that he may let it end. Trump also opened up options to negotiate other deals with Mexico and Canada.

Hillman, a senior diplomat as well as a trade lawyer, has received praise from US and Canadian officials after news of his resignation spread.

Duta Besar Hillman adalah sosok kelas tinggi, kata Perwakilan Perdagangan AS, Jamieson kalinya.

he said he did not expect Hillman's departure to affect the ongoing Canadian-US negotiations. The US trade representative stressed Hilman was a good figure.

Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described him as a true patriot who has served Canadians proudly, and rewarded his role in helping resolve trade disputes and strengthening the economy.