It91裸聊视频檚 a truism in foreign-policy circles that the world learned some hard lessons from Donald Trump91裸聊视频檚 volatile first term as president.

But as the prospect of a second term looms, could it also be true that the notoriously stubborn Trump and his advisers left the White House with a better grasp of Canada91裸聊视频檚 relationship with 91裸聊视频� and importance to 91裸聊视频� the United States?

91裸聊视频淵eah, I think so 91裸聊视频� I do,91裸聊视频� said Kirsten Hillman, Canada91裸聊视频檚 envoy in Washington.

For starters, there was the arduous 18-month renegotiation of NAFTA, in which even America91裸聊视频檚 self-proclaimed champion dealmaker has long suggested Canada proved a more worthy adversary than he expected.

But Trump was also president in early 2020, when COVID-19 was beginning to flourish on North American soil, soon to blossom into a global crisis that showed the U.S. a thing or two about its largest trading partner.

91裸聊视频淲hen we restricted movement on our border, it took less than a day for people to fully understand the implications,91裸聊视频� Hillman said.

They promptly discovered just how much traffic, travel and commerce crossed the Canada-U.S. border each day, 91裸聊视频渁nd therefore, as a consequence, (came to) fully appreciate the degree to which we are integrated and mutually supportive.91裸聊视频�

Hillman described daily conversations with senior members of Trump91裸聊视频檚 White House COVID-19 task force to talk about supply chains, vaccine development efforts and how to secure personal protective equipment.

Trump promptly imposed export restrictions on scarce commodities like gloves and surgical masks, but exempted both Canada and Mexico, because 91裸聊视频渢hey realized, 91裸聊视频楾hey need us, but we need them,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 not saying it91裸聊视频檚 front of mind, as it was obviously at the time, but it91裸聊视频檚 there 91裸聊视频� in a way that91裸聊视频檚 deeper than it was before.91裸聊视频�

That has given Canada something of a head start as it continues outreach efforts with former officials, U.S. lawmakers and others who might be expected to play a role in a second Donald Trump presidency.

Those efforts have been underway for a while now, said Hillman, who described a more robust policy and transition 91裸聊视频渁pparatus91裸聊视频� around Trump than there was in 2016.

91裸聊视频淎ll of it is being developed in quite a systematic way, much more akin to what happens normally with other candidates and both parties,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淪o we can access that, right? We can talk to those people 91裸聊视频� and we are talking to them, and will continue to 91裸聊视频� to understand the policy positions they are advocating for the potential Trump administration.91裸聊视频�

Hillman91裸聊视频檚 primary responsibility, and preferred strategy, is best described as making sure decision-makers across the U.S. at every level of government grasp how Canada touches their lives, often in discreet and unheralded ways.

One sign of that strategy working: the American Canadian Economy and Security caucus, a bilateral coalition of like-minded lawmakers unveiled this past summer by Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) and Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Tex.).

It sprang up over the summer after Zaib Shaikh, Canada91裸聊视频檚 consul general in Los Angeles, pointed out that Amodei91裸聊视频檚 district alone was exporting nearly $1.5 billion a year north of the border, underpinning an estimated 12,000 U.S. jobs.

Amodei immediately wanted to know more, including which of his fellow U.S. lawmakers and senators had comparable stakes in Canada. The caucus now comprises more than a dozen members, House and Senate, Republican and Democrat alike.

91裸聊视频淲e had a very successful year in raising the profile of the relationship and deepening the relationship,91裸聊视频� Hillman said.

91裸聊视频淎nd it91裸聊视频檚 coming at a really important time: to be in this place now, as we head into an election year in the United States, is a good position to be in.91裸聊视频�

When talking to Team Trump, 91裸聊视频渨hat91裸聊视频檚 crucial is that we bring the Canadian perspective91裸聊视频� to issues of myriad mutual interest, she said 91裸聊视频� trade, defence, transportation and agriculture, to name a few.

Hillman lingered over one example in particular 91裸聊视频� energy policy 91裸聊视频� that91裸聊视频檚 sure to be a dominant theme for a would-be president who has promised to 91裸聊视频渄rill, drill, drill91裸聊视频� on his first day back in the West Wing.

91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频楥anada is, by far, the biggest and most secure energy supplier for the United States across all areas of energy production, and we will always be here for you,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� she said, describing one such hypothetical conversation.

91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频楽o as you91裸聊视频檙e thinking about how you91裸聊视频檙e going to refine your energy policies, remember, we are sort of hand-in-hand with you on that.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

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