Senator Shaheen Blames U.S. Rhetoric for 30% Drop in NH Canadian Tourism

In a Senate hearing on Tuesday, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, accused the Trump administration of undermining cross-border relations through inflammatory rhetoric, linking it directly to a sharp decline in Canadian tourism to her state.

Shaheen directed her remarks toward Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick during the session focused on trade policies. She highlighted Lutnick's recent criticism of Canada's approach to ongoing trade negotiations, which he described as inadequate during a public discussion in Washington, D.C., on Friday. In that event, organized by Semafor's World Economy forum, Lutnick stated bluntly that Canada's trade strategy "sucks," adding that the country relies heavily on the U.S. economy for support. He further argued that it was unreasonable for Canadian provinces to restrict sales of American liquor on their shelves, a point he reiterated during the hearing.

The senator contended that such comments, combined with similar statements from President Donald Trump, have eroded trust among Canadians, prompting them to avoid travel to the United States. "We should be working with our allies, not insulting them," Shaheen said,...