Key Takeaways
- • Kelly Ann Shaw, Akin lobbying partner and former senior Trump administration trade official, stated on CNBC that the U.S. and Canada "have no choice but to make this relationship work" across economic, trade, and national security dimensions.
- • Despite ongoing tariff tensions and retaliatory measures between the two countries, Shaw emphasized that "most of U.S.-Canada trade is completely unaffected by these tariffs and Canada's retaliatory tariffs," suggesting limited disruption to the broader bilateral trade relationship.
- • The commentary reflects a pragmatic assessment that continued engagement between the U.S. and Canada remains essential despite current trade policy friction, with the two nations maintaining diplomatic channels across multiple policy areas.
Summary
Kelly Ann Shaw, a lobbying and public policy partner at Akin and veteran of the Trump administration's trade policy apparatus, appeared on CNBC's Morning Call on August 24, 2026, to address the evolving U.S.-Canada trade relationship amid persistent tariff tensions. Shaw's remarks underscore the strategic imperative for bilateral cooperation despite near-term frictions in trade negotiations.
Shaw articulated a foundational position that transcends immediate trade disputes: "The United States and Canada have no choice but to make this relationship work across a whole host of issues from economic to trade to national security." This framing positions the bilateral relationship within a broader framework encompassing security considerations alongside commercial interests, suggesting that policymakers view trade disagreements as discrete issues within a larger strategic context.
Notably, Shaw provided reassurance regarding the scope of tariff-driven disruption. She told CNBC that "most of U.S.-Canada trade is completely unaffected by these tariffs and Canada's retaliatory tariffs," a statement that carries significance for investors assessing supply chain risk and trade-dependent sectors. This assertion suggests that headline tariff disputes, while creating volatility and political theater, have not cascaded into comprehensive trade restrictions that would materially impair the roughly $2 trillion annual bilateral trade relationship.
Shaw's comments acknowledge current challenges while maintaining that engagement will persist across multiple policy domains. The implicit message—that both nations recognize mutual dependence and will continue negotiations despite disagreements—may provide some stability for institutions with exposure to cross-border commercial flows and supply chains dependent on U.S.-Canadian integration.
Shaw articulated a foundational position that transcends immediate trade disputes: "The United States and Canada have no choice but to make this relationship work across a whole host of issues from economic to trade to national security." This framing positions the bilateral relationship within a broader framework encompassing security considerations alongside commercial interests, suggesting that policymakers view trade disagreements as discrete issues within a larger strategic context.
Notably, Shaw provided reassurance regarding the scope of tariff-driven disruption. She told CNBC that "most of U.S.-Canada trade is completely unaffected by these tariffs and Canada's retaliatory tariffs," a statement that carries significance for investors assessing supply chain risk and trade-dependent sectors. This assertion suggests that headline tariff disputes, while creating volatility and political theater, have not cascaded into comprehensive trade restrictions that would materially impair the roughly $2 trillion annual bilateral trade relationship.
Shaw's comments acknowledge current challenges while maintaining that engagement will persist across multiple policy domains. The implicit message—that both nations recognize mutual dependence and will continue negotiations despite disagreements—may provide some stability for institutions with exposure to cross-border commercial flows and supply chains dependent on U.S.-Canadian integration.
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