It害羞草研究所檚 a truism in foreign-policy circles that the world learned some hard lessons from Donald Trump害羞草研究所檚 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 Canada害羞草研究所檚 relationship with 害羞草研究所� and importance to 害羞草研究所� the United States?

害羞草研究所淵eah, I think so 害羞草研究所� I do,害羞草研究所� said Kirsten Hillman, Canada害羞草研究所檚 envoy in Washington.

For starters, there was the arduous 18-month renegotiation of NAFTA, in which even America害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淲hen we restricted movement on our border, it took less than a day for people to fully understand the implications,害羞草研究所� Hillman said.

They promptly discovered just how much traffic, travel and commerce crossed the Canada-U.S. border each day, 害羞草研究所渁nd therefore, as a consequence, (came to) fully appreciate the degree to which we are integrated and mutually supportive.害羞草研究所�

Hillman described daily conversations with senior members of Trump害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所渢hey realized, 害羞草研究所楾hey need us, but we need them,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 she said.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not saying it害羞草研究所檚 front of mind, as it was obviously at the time, but it害羞草研究所檚 there 害羞草研究所� in a way that害羞草研究所檚 deeper than it was before.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所渁pparatus害羞草研究所� around Trump than there was in 2016.

害羞草研究所淎ll of it is being developed in quite a systematic way, much more akin to what happens normally with other candidates and both parties,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淪o we can access that, right? We can talk to those people 害羞草研究所� and we are talking to them, and will continue to 害羞草研究所� to understand the policy positions they are advocating for the potential Trump administration.害羞草研究所�

Hillman害羞草研究所檚 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, Canada害羞草研究所檚 consul general in Los Angeles, pointed out that Amodei害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淲e had a very successful year in raising the profile of the relationship and deepening the relationship,害羞草研究所� Hillman said.

害羞草研究所淎nd it害羞草研究所檚 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.害羞草研究所�

When talking to Team Trump, 害羞草研究所渨hat害羞草研究所檚 crucial is that we bring the Canadian perspective害羞草研究所� to issues of myriad mutual interest, she said 害羞草研究所� trade, defence, transportation and agriculture, to name a few.

Hillman lingered over one example in particular 害羞草研究所� energy policy 害羞草研究所� that害羞草研究所檚 sure to be a dominant theme for a would-be president who has promised to 害羞草研究所渄rill, drill, drill害羞草研究所� on his first day back in the West Wing.

害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克鶚Canada 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,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 she said, describing one such hypothetical conversation.

害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克鶚So as you害羞草研究所檙e thinking about how you害羞草研究所檙e going to refine your energy policies, remember, we are sort of hand-in-hand with you on that.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

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