**WASHINGTON—**Today, **U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee**, delivered opening remarks at the hearing on the nomination of Peter Hoekstra to be Ambassador to Canada, George Glass to be Ambassador to Japan and Ronald Johnson to be Ambassador to Mexico. In her opening remarks, Ranking Member Shaheen expressed concerns about the impact of Trump administration’s self-inflicted trade war with our allies and the harm it will have on small businesses and consumers in New Hampshire and all across the United States.
You can watch her opening remarks [**here**](https://youtu.be/YnnO7uy6sd8).
**In part, the Ranking Member said:** “For our nominees today, if confirmed, you’ll be leading efforts that are fundamental to our national interests—combating corruption and fighting the flow of fentanyl through Mexico into the United States, strengthening our trade partnerships on behalf of American manufacturers and farmers, bolstering our allies like Japan who live well within striking distance of North Korea and China.”
**She concluded: “**Unfortunately, the Trump Administration’s first month and a half in office does not inspire confidence and trust when it comes to our foreign policy. Which is why we must make sure the United States has ambassadors that are suitable to represent our nation in the countries that they are assigned to—ambassadors who can solidify and build on our long-standing alliances.”
Ranking Member Shaheen asked the nominees to articulate their vision for positive engagement and U.S. leadership with Canada, Mexico and Japan, including how they will build upon the decades of history and successes with our allies to advance America’s interests.
**The Ranking Member’s opening remarks, as delivered, are below.**
Thank you, Mr. Chairman and welcome to our nominees this morning, and welcome also to your families and supporters who are here today.
One of the greatest assets, as the Chairman also pointed out, that we have in the United States is our strong alliances around the world and our friendly neighbors close to home. This traditionally has meant a wealth of opportunities for Americans and that’s certainly true in my home state of New Hampshire. New Hampshire’s biggest export market is Canada; our third biggest is Mexico, followed by Japan.
As the New Hampshire businesswoman who accompanied me to President Trump’s speech to Congress last week stated, “We rely on smooth international trade for sourcing raw materials and packaging that are either not grown or commercially available in the U.S.”
But, self-inflicted trade wars don’t just cut off opportunities for small businesses in my state. They raise the price of gas, of groceries for Americans all across the country. And at the same time, the alliances that we have built since the end of World War II with nations like Japan go far beyond our trade relationship. These alliances have been the cornerstone to America’s security for generations.
Japan hosts almost 55,000 active-duty U.S. servicemembers on 15 major bases—more than any other country in the world. We work together on cyber defense, on missile technology and on AI. And Japan has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine. A recognition that defeating Putin in Ukraine is critical for the security of sovereign nations around the world, I think is at the foundation of that support. As the former Japanese Prime Minister said in his address to Congress in the last couple of years, “The Ukraine of today may be the East Asia of tomorrow.”
For our nominees today, if confirmed, you’ll be leading efforts that are fundamental to our national interests—combating corruption and fighting the flow of fentanyl through Mexico into the United States, strengthening our trade partnerships on behalf of American manufacturers and farmers, bolstering our allies like Japan who live well within striking distance of North Korea and China.
Ambassador Hoekstra, Ambassador Glass, Ambassador Johnson—if you are confirmed, you will be leading many of these efforts. So, I would ask, how helpful is it to have President Trump bad-mouthing our alliance with Japan from the Oval Office? Should we make threats about Canadian sovereignty as it conducts its elections? Should we try to bully Mexico as we work together to fight drug cartels and curb immigration at our southern border?
Unfortunately, the Trump Administration’s first month and a half in office does not inspire confidence and trust when it comes to our foreign policy. Which is why we must make sure the United States has ambassadors that are suitable to represent our nation in the countries that they are assigned to—ambassadors who can solidify and build on our long-standing alliances.
So, to our nominees, given some of your past statements, I hope you’ll take this hearing as an opportunity to articulate your vision for positive engagement with Canada, Mexico and Japan. How will you build on the successes that we’ve had over the years in those countries? How will you work with their governments to advance America’s interests? I look forward to hearing your thoughts and plans. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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