Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen from New Hampshire is blaming the Trump administration’s “insulting” rhetoric for the collapse of Canadian tourism in her state. In a Senate hearing, she asked Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about his recent comments on Canada’s trade strategy.
Lutnick said Canada leans on the U.S. economy and claimed it’s “outrageous” for Canadian provinces to keep American liquor off their shelves.
During a discussion with Semafor World Economy in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Lutnick attacked Canada’s approach to trade talks with the words, “They suck.”
A furious Shaheen said Canadians are responding to comments from Lutnick and Donald Trump by staying away. She said there was a 30 per cent drop in Canadian tourism in her state because of a loss of trust and goodwill.
Meanwhile…
Canadian travel to the U.S. has experienced a massive, 14-month decline, dropping 28% in 2025 (roughly 9 million fewer trips) and continuing to fall in early 2026. Driven by a ” soft boycott” amid hostile political tensions and tariffs under the Trump administration. This slump has cost the U.S. economy $4.5 billion.
The decrease in travel shows no signs of reversing, with continued declines in January and March 2026. Canadian road trips to the U.S., the most common form of travel, fell by 27% in January 2026.
Senator Shaheen rightly suggested that the United States should be working with allies, not insulting them.
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