Meridian Global Business Briefing with H.E. Kirsten Hillman, Ambassador of Canada to the U.S.

With Canada becoming America’s largest trading partner in 2021, bilateral collaboration between our two nations has expanded rapidly across a variety of sectors in response to global challenges. On March 1, 2023, the Meridian Corporate Council partnered with ConocoPhillips to host a Global Business Briefing with Ambassador Kirsten Hillman. The discussion, moderated by Meridian CEO Ambassador Stuart Holliday, covered key areas of partnership between the U.S. and Canada.

H.E. Kirsten Hillman was appointed Canada’s Ambassador to the United States of America in Washington D.C. in March 2020, the first woman to serve in this position. As Deputy Ambassador from August 2017 to August 2019, Ambassador Hillman was deeply involved in the negotiations to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).  Prior to joining the Embassy, Ambassador Hillman held the position of Assistant Deputy Minister of the Trade Agreements and Negotiations Branch at Global Affairs Canada, overseeing all of Canada’s trade policy and trade negotiations. She also served as Canada’s Chief Negotiator for the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), one of the most visionary and progressive trade agreements implemented to date.

Two years after announcing the Roadmap for a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership, President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau are set to meet once again in March 2023 to discuss new and emerging challenges including supply chain disruptions and energy security. The intertwined binational trade ecosystem between the U.S. and Canada will be key to addressing these challenges, fostering mutual competitiveness. Ambassador Hillman highlighted the unprecedented degree of security, energy and food independence, and economic vibrancy offered by strong U.S.-Canada collaboration, especially when conducted in cooperation with Mexico through mechanisms such as USMCA. While cultural media and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) financial incentives are points of contention, the rules-based stability of friendship between the U.S. and Canada will ensure a strong and resilient binational relationship in the years to come.

Ambassador Holliday, CEO, Meridian International Center, Ambassador Hillman, and Mack Moore, Manager – International Affairs and Risk in conversation during the Global Business Briefing on March 1, 2023. Photo by Jess Latos.

Nicholas Bramble, Senior Counsel – Trade Policy, Google, Danielle Suber, Director – International Government Affairs, Emerson, and Travis Gibbons, Director, Federal Government Relations, Diageo in conversation ahead of the Global Business Briefing on March 1, 2023. Photo by Jess Latos.

Heather Wingate, Senior Vice President – Government Affairs, Delta posits a question to Ambassador Hillman during the Global Business Briefing on March 1, 2023. Photo by Jess Latos.

Abigail Bowman, Area Manager – International External & Regulatory Affairs, AT&T shares a laugh with Puru Trivedi, Vice President External & Corporate Affairs, Meridian International Center during the Global Business Briefing on March 1, 2023. Photo by Jess Latos.

Monica He, Director – International Government Affairs, Organon, shares a comment during the Global Business Briefing on March 1, 2023. Photo by Jess Latos

Ambassador Hillman, and Mack Moore, Manager – International Affairs and Risk shake hands during the Global Business Briefing on March 1, 2023. Photo by Jess Latos.

A packed table during the Global Business Briefing on March 1, 2023. Photo by Jess Latos.

Nayana Renukumar, Global Policy Lead, Airbnb highlights a concern to the Ambassador during the Global Business Briefing on March 1, 2023. Photo by Jess Latos.

Natalie Jones, Executive Vice President, Meridian International Center and Leila Afas, Director – Global Public Policy, Toyota in conversation ahead of the Global Business Briefing on March 1, 2023. Photo by Jess Latos.