U.S. Ambassador urges Canadian politicians to ease rhetoric amid trade dispute Pete Hoekstra visited Canada to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks and urged Ottawa to tone down its language toward Washington, as trade tensions and President Trump's social media remarks inflame bilateral relations. Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, arrived in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador on Monday for a ceremony honouring the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. During a brief interview with CTV News, he said it was time for Canadian politicians to reduce the hostility in their public statements. He criticised remarks that had been made by Ottawa officials, saying they had "regretted" their words and that the rhetoric needed to shift toward constructive discussion."There have been things said by Canadian politicians that, at least I've heard, they regret saying. Let's talk about the issue here. Let's get it resolved and move forward," Hoekstra told reporters. When asked whether he would transmit the same message to President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly targeted Canada on social media and suggested that the United States should absorb its northern neighbour, Hoekstra declined.He explained that his presence in Gander was about commemorating the attacks rather than making a diplomatic statement to Washington. The ambassador's comments come at a time when the Canada‑U.S. trade dispute remains a major point of contention, with tariffs on cars and automotive parts hurting both sides of the border. Canadian auto‑industry experts say the tariffs "damage the economics of a very integrated supply chain", as highlighted by former Ford executive Michael Ford.Ford stated that he "hopes" Trump loses the mid‑term elections after receiving calls from U.S. officials urging a move away from aggressive trade policy. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a press conference in Calgary, emphasised that he remains in regular contact with President Trump."I've spoken to him a couple of times in the last few days about issues here at home, developments in Iran and other global matters," Carney said on Tuesday. The prime minister added that, despite public disputes and AI-generated memes mocking Canada, the governments will continue to work together. Canadian officials have warned that the tariffs could have long‑lasting effects on the economy, especially the auto sector which is highly interdependent with the United States.Canadian trade ministers have mixed messages about how the dispute will impact the country. Some speculate that Canada's "conservative" government may push back by negotiating a new trade package or by seeking alternative suppliers. At the RNC midterm convention in Dallas, President Trump claimed that Canada "is dying to make a deal," a statement that fed into the growing frustration in Ottawa.The U.S. ambassador's call to calm the rhetoric is aimed at moving beyond the divisive tone that has characterised the trade talks in recent months. Environmentally, both nations have a shared interest in a stable supply chain, especially for vehicles and parts. The trade dispute has stalled joint initiatives, such as the joint web‑based units deployed by the U.S. Army and Canadian Armed Forces for regional conflict readiness.This culminates in a broader push for cooperation in other border‑focused areas, including the deployment of drones for emergency services in Calgary. In short, the ambassador's message underscores the need for diplomatic decorum in an era of heightened political echoes. The latest developments indicate that Canada cannot rely solely on charismatic leadership; instead, a calm, focused approach may ultimately preserve the economic wellbeing of both nations.