Kaptur, Dingell, Lead Colleagues In Letter Urging President to Recognize Importance of the US-Canada Relationship

August 31, 2026 Press Release Toledo, OH – Today, Democratic Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Great Lakes Task Force Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) led 86 of their House colleagues in urging President Trump to change his Administration’s diplomatic approach with Canada and recognize the importance of the US-Canada relationship. The effort follows further fraying in the two country’s relations amid President Trump’s escalating and chaotic use of trade barriers against Canada. In a letter to President Trump, the lawmakers specifically highlighted the risk to the American economy should the President continue to use demeaning rhetoric and implement damaging policies against Canada. “Your Administration’s escalating and chaotic use of trade barriers against Canada is putting this relationship at serious risk. Recent tariffs, continued threats of additional trade restrictions, and increasingly adversarial rhetoric are creating uncertainty for businesses, workers, farmers, and consumers on both sides of the border. American exports to Canada declined in 2025, while Canadian exports to the United States also fell substantially following the implementation of US tariffs. Additionally, Canadian businesses are increasingly looking to diversify their supply chains and markets, which should concern your Administration,” the lawmakers wrote. The lawmakers went on to describe the shared economic interests between the US and Canada and the risks a worsening relationship would have on the American people, especially for those across America's Heartland and in the Great Lakes region. “Our economic relationship is too important to put at risk. Our manufacturers, farmers, producers, small businesses, and consumers depend upon Canada, as Canadian businesses and workers depend upon access to the United States. Materials, parts, and components routinely cross the border as part of shared North American supply chains. Disrupting these relationships increases costs for American businesses and consumers, undermines our competitiveness, and puts good-paying American jobs at risk. For example, the North American automotive industry relies on a highly integrated supply chain in which parts and materials can cross the US-Canada border multiple times before a vehicle reaches a customer. Similar integration exists across energy, agriculture, steel, aluminum, critical minerals, and manufacturing,” the lawmakers continued. A full copy of the letter can be found by clicking here, or reading below : Dear Mr. President: This letter is to urge your Administration to change its diplomatic approach with our closest ally, Canada, and recognize the importance of the United States-Canada relationship. Canada is not an adversary. Canada is a close friend, neighbor, ally, and economic partner whose security and prosperity is deeply intertwined with the United States. As you know, our countries share the longest international border in the world, generations of family and cultural ties, and deeply integrated economies and supply chains. We have stood together through war and peace and decades of cooperation. Our relationship is one of the world’s most enduring partnerships, built by generations of Americans and Canadians who work together, raise families, conduct business, travel, and share communities and culture. Your Administration’s escalating and chaotic use of trade barriers against Canada is putting this relationship at serious risk. Recent tariffs, continued threats of additional trade restrictions, and increasingly adversarial rhetoric are creating uncertainty for businesses, workers, farmers, and consumers on both sides of the border. American exports to Canada declined in 2025, while Canadian exports to the United States also fell substantially following the implementation of US tariffs Additionally, Canadian businesses are increasingly looking to diversify their supply chains and markets, which should concern your Administration. Our economic relationship is too important to put at risk. Our manufacturers, farmers, producers, small businesses, and consumers depend upon Canada, as Canadian businesses and workers depend upon access to the United States. Materials, parts, and components routinely cross the border as part of shared North American supply chains. Disrupting these relationships increases costs for American businesses and consumers, undermines our competitiveness, and puts good-paying American jobs at risk. For example, the North American automotive industry relies on a highly integrated supply chain in which parts and materials can cross the US-Canada border multiple times before a vehicle reaches a customer. Similar integration exists across energy, agriculture, steel, aluminum, critical minerals, and manufacturing. To strengthen production and supply chains across North America, we must work with our American and Canadian partners. If our shared goal is to reduce dependence on China and other bad actors, treating Canada increasingly like an adversary is both counterproductive and dangerous. We should instead deepen economic cooperation with allies like Canada to increase domestic production and ensure critical goods and resources come from trusted partners. We support fair and reciprocal trade and addressing legitimate trade barriers that disadvantage American workers and businesses. However, disagreements between close allies should be resolved through good-faith negotiations and established trade mechanisms, not through erratic trade policy, threats, and public disputes. Canada has already taken steps toward retaliation, demonstrating the real risk that continued escalation will harm American workers, businesses, farmers, and consumers and weaken the broader North American economy. Our relationship with Canada also extends far beyond trade. We share vital defense and national security interests, energy resources, the Great Lakes, environmental responsibilities, agricultural markets, tourism, and millions of personal and economic ties across our border. We work together every day to protect North America, respond to emergencies, manage shared resources, and keep our communities safe. At a time of serious global economic and security challenges, we should be strengthening this partnership and the ties that make both countries safer, more prosperous, and more competitive. We urge your Administration to treat Canada as the close ally, friend, neighbor, and economic partner that it is, and to resolve our differences through diplomacy while preserving and strengthening the relationship generations of Americans and Canadians have built. Just as a strong and prosperous United States is in Canada’s interest, a strong and prosperous Canada is also in America’s interest. Thank you. # # # Issues : Trade Jobs and the Economy Health Care Energy