Keynote Address: Pete Hoekstra

This 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference session was crafted in partnership with Crain’s Content Studio.

• Hoekstra remains optimistic about U.S. and Canada relations
• Obstacles need to be resolved to overcome ongoing trade issues
• Eliminating uncertainties is key to building a strong economy

Despite viewpoints of the Trump administration’s agenda, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra says it’s tough not to be “amazed” at the speed and rollout of Trump’s spending plan. 

The spending plan is “unleashing the potential of energy to make us more energy dependent and make us even more of an energy powerhouse,” Hoekstra said of what he calls one of many “historic” accomplishments the Trump administration has achieved in a short period of time. 

“He wants to increase the safety of trade,” Hoekstra explained of President Trump. “He wants to make sure we’ve got fair and excellent trading agreements with our partners around the world.” 

This extends to the U.S. relationship with Canada, which Hoekstra says he’s optimistic about. 

“They’re both committed to growth,” he said of President Trump and Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney. “Trump is putting in place an agenda that he believes will unleash American prosperity and growth. Carney is trying to do exactly the same thing by removing obstacles to growth in that country and get the economy in Canada booming again.” 

“Can you imagine what happens in North America if the Canadian economy and the U.S. economy are booming at the same time?” Hoekstra said. “We’ve got to get an agreement on the trade deal. I think both [the U.S. and Canada] recognize that we have to move forward.” 

Still, Hoekstra says obstacles need to be resolved. “There hasn’t been a pro-American trade voice in Canada for the last four-to-six months,” he admitted. “They’ve banned the sale of American alcohol products [in response to tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Canadian products].” 

They’re just two of many bumps in the road Hoekstra believes the U.S. will encounter, but he remains positive about “getting to a point” of resolving and overcoming ongoing trade issues. 

Amid efforts to secure the border, a proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system (which Trump extended to Canada) and nuclear threats from different directions, WOOD-TV 8 political reporter Rick Albin asked Hoekstra how we can keep North America safe once and for all. 

Is safety doable in the short-term, or is it a decade-long project, he questioned the ambassador. 

“I believe we’re going to do it in three years,” Hoekstra responded to the ambitious efforts. 

All in all, he believes Trump’s agenda is generating the “strongest economies that America and Canada have ever experienced.” “By working together, they will be able to exceed the objective for the American and the Canadian people,” Hoekstra said. “Once we get past this uncertainty.” 

This session was sponsored by the University of Michigan.