U.S. envoy to work ‘tirelessly’ on trade

• U. S. President Donald Trump’s choice to serve as the next ambassador to Canada said she will work hard to maintain — and improve — the strong economic relationship between both countries during her time in Ottawa.

“I will work tirelessly to further enhance our strong economic partnership — the most extensive and integrated economic relationship of any two nations in the world,” Kelly Knight Craft said Thursday during her Senate confirmation hearing in Washington. “I believe we can do better,” she added.

“If confirmed, I will seek new opportunities to foster further growth to create more jobs for both countries, while promoting free and fair trade to ensure that American businesses and workers can compete on a level playing field.”

The Trump administration wants to have its ambassador in Canada quickly, since negotiations for the new NAFTA are set to begin next month.

Knight Craft did not divulge many other details about the role she expects to play in the NAFTA talks, except to say that she will work closely with U. S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U. S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

When asked to share her plans for promoting U. S. exports to Canada, Knight Craft mentioned softwood lumber, dairy and poultry as areas where she would direct some of her efforts.

Otherwise, Knight Craft faced few questions, with two of them about years-old college basketball games in her home state of Kentucky.

Knight Craft, who would be the first woman to serve as U. S. ambassador to Canada, said she would also work to advance shared goals on energy security, which she mentioned is linked to the environment.

“I will also work to advance our shared environmental goals, stewardship of our common watersheds, land mass, wildlife, farm life and the air we breathe, from coast to coast to coast, as the Canadians say,” she said.

Knight Craft said she also valued the partnership Canada has with the U. S. in Norad and NATO. “The United States is fortunate to have a neighbour that shares a strong commitment to democratic values and works tirelessly to promote peace, prosperity and human rights around the world,” she said.

Knight Craft is married to a prominent coal magnate.