Nikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and a current vice-chair at Edelman, participates in a panel discussion at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce B7 Summit in Ottawa on May 16.Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
The United States wants to do business with other countries, said former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, as she tried to reassure a business audience in Ottawa that the current trade turbulence will pass.
Ms. Haley appeared on a panel at the B7 summit on Friday, where business leaders from G7 countries gathered ahead of the leaders’ summit next month.
“Don’t assume that the U.S. doesn’t want to do business with your country,” said Ms. Haley, who ran against U.S. President Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.
“They actually do want to do business with your country. It’s just messy right now. And this too shall pass.”
Opinion: In a flash, Donald Trump has become the world’s temperamental centre of gravity
Tariffs have strained relations between the U.S. and traditional allies such as G7 countries as their economies suffer from the uncertainty and increased costs resulting from Mr. Trump’s trade wars.
With no clear end in sight to the global trade tensions, business leaders gathered in Ottawa tried to unpack the political and social forces that have led the U.S. and other countries in a protectionist direction.
Ms. Haley suggested that Mr. Trump’s election victory reflected a desire for change in the U.S., both because of economic anxiety and discontent with social policies such as diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
US ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra speaks at the B7 Summit May 16, 2025 in Ottawa.Dave Chan/The Globe and Mail
Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, also spoke at the B7 summit in his first public appearance since his diplomatic appointment.
Mr. Hoekstra suggested that there will be discussions between the U.S. and Canada on how the two countries move forward “on a number of serious issues.”
“America is open for business,” Mr. Hoekstra said, as he dismissed concerns at the summit that the U.S. had turned away from economic engagement internationally.
“We anticipate and hope that you are all open for business as well.”
Opinion: Make Canada the 51st state? How about making America the 11th province, instead
Mr. Trump has repeatedly said that the U.S. does not need any of the goods that Canada has to offer, an argument he’s used to bolster his pitch for it to become the 51st state.
The B7 summit comes ahead of the G7 meeting of finance ministers and central-bank governors in Kananaskis, Alta., next week.
Canada, which has the G7 presidency this year, will then receive the leaders of the U.S., Britain, Germany, Italy, France and Japan for their summit in June.
