Transcript: Canadian ambassador Kirsten Hillman on

The next is the transcript of an interview with Kirsten Hillman, U.S. ambassador to Canada, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on March 9, 2025.

MARGARET BRENNAN: That was our Ed O’Keefe in Ottawa. We’re joined now by Canada’s Ambassador to the US, Kirsten Hillman. Ambassador, it is good to have you ever right here. 

CANADIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S. KIRSTEN HILLMAN: Thanks for having me, Margaret. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: You simply heard the Homeland Safety Secretary say there are conversations together with your authorities. She appeared optimistic that there can be comply with by means of on fentanyl. Does that make you assume the specter of tariffs on April 2 is one thing that may be managed and prevented? 

HILLMAN: Nicely, I hope so. I imply, I believe that we’re in an excellent place in our discussions with the U.S. administration on fentanyl. We’ve got invested a whole lot of new sources, we now have given our legislation enforcement new powers and we now have responded to the requests of the Trump Administration with respect to cooperative results in getting on the sources, so the organized crime, the precursors coming from China. We have had some actually, actually good discussions, so we’re optimistic. And, you already know, I simply would say, and I believe it is necessary to your viewers to know fentanyl is a really significant issue in Canada too. On some days we now have extra deaths per capita than you’ve right here in the US. So we take this very significantly. It’s not an enormous subject between our two nations. Lower than 1 % of the fentanyl that’s seized in the US is coming from Canada, however each ounce can kill households and other people. So we’re taking it very significantly,

MARGARET BRENNAN: However, you might be indulging the premise that that’s the precise motivation for the tariffs, moderately than leverage for a free commerce deal, or simply as a result of President Trump believes in them?

HILLMAN: Nicely, I believe that this set of tariffs, the 25 and 10 % set of tariffs, are- we now have been advised repeatedly that it’s about fentanyl and safety on the border. There are different tariffs which have been mentioned and the President has raised different points as motivations for different tariffs, reciprocity and equity, and you already know, possibly some modifications that he’d wish to see to our USMCA, our commerce settlement. So these conversations are going to should occur as properly. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, President Trump mentioned Friday he might put tariffs on Canadian lumber and dairy Monday or Tuesday. This is what he mentioned. Take a hear:

SOT DONALD TRUMP: Canada has been ripping us off for years on tariffs for lumber and for dairy merchandise. 250 %, no person ever talks about that. 250 % tariff, which is making the most of our farmers. In order that’s not going to occur anymore. We will be- they will be met with the very same tariff until they drop it. And that is what reciprocal means.

MARGARET BRENNAN: On one other community, the Commerce Secretary mentioned, no, that is really on maintain until April 2. It is complicated for us to comply with this alongside. Is the readability with the 2 governments any higher?

HILLMAN: You realize we’re in energetic discussions with Secretary Lutnick, and people discussions are heading in the direction of April 2, and that, I believe, is we’re placing our power within the substantive discussions that we’re having with the secretary, with USTR, with the White Home. And you already know, that’s, I suppose, how I can reply that query. The President- the President does have quite a lot of issues, and I believe additionally sees tariffs as a device for quite a lot of coverage aims, however actually, all we will do is give attention to the actual work at hand, which is to get at these points. Like, for instance, lumber, Canada would not have a tariff on lumber. It is zero. U.S. lumber can come into Canada duty-free. On dairy, the U.S. sells 3 times as a lot dairy into Canada as we promote into the US. So what’s extra, I believe productive for us is to speak in regards to the details across the precise buying and selling relationship and attempt to get at the place the issues are. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: However, Canada does put a tariff as excessive as 241 % on dairy imports, however it’s a sliding scale that solely kicks in at a sure degree, and that is beneath the free commerce deal.

HILLMAN: That is proper, and it is like the US. In agriculture, the US is similar in sugar and dairy. You enable a certain quantity of product in, after which after that degree is hit, you place restraints in on imports. And we do the identical to guard our farmers and households and you already know, small household farms that- that must make sure that they will have a little bit of the market.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So there was this 50-minute telephone name Wednesday with the Vice President, the Commerce Secretary and President Trump, together with your Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. Afterwards, the president posted that Trudeau was unable to inform him when the election was going down, which made him curious. Like, quote, “what is going on on right here? I then realized he is making an attempt to make use of this subject to remain in energy.” Do you assume this is sort of a private subject right here? Do you assume it will change when your management modifications?

HILLMAN: It is laborious for me to- laborious for me to say. I believe that the prime minister and the president- Prime Minister Trudeau and the president, they’ve finished large issues collectively, proper? They did renegotiate NAFTA collectively– 

MARGARET BRENNAN: They’ve a historical past collectively.

HILLMAN: Proper. They’ve a protracted historical past. They did good issues collectively. They managed our 6,000- virtually 6,000 mile border throughout COVID very efficiently, for my part. So it is a lengthy relationship, and has many- has had many phases to it. We may have a brand new prime minister this week. Right now, the Liberal Celebration will elect a brand new chief. That new chief will likely be sworn in within the coming days, and that individual will grow to be Canada’s Prime Minister. These are details that aren’t going to vary.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you assume it is going to cease the vows from the president to speak about threatening to annex Canada?

HILLMAN: You realize, I suppose– 

MARGARET BRENNAN: What’s that?

HILLMAN: I- I am undecided what that’s. What I can say is that Canadians do not actually admire it. They’re getting a bit bit annoyed with that form of rhetoric. However extra importantly, Canadians are annoyed with our neighbors. You realize, the nation that we really feel closest to, the nation that’s companions, allies, typically household that we have gone to conflict with, that we have died with, that we come to one another’s support, most just lately in LA, however clearly 9/11. You’ve got come to our support over time so many instances, and we feel- Canadians really feel beneath assault, beneath financial assault, and that’s inflicting some challenges, for positive, throughout Canadian society. I believe our new prime minister, when that individual is available in, will prioritize making an attempt to have a very good and- and wholesome and productive relationship with the current. I’m positive that that is going to be potential. Relationships go each methods, however I do know that on our facet, that is going to be a precedence.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Ambassador, thanks for becoming a member of us, and we’ll be proper again with much more Face the Nation. Stick with us.