Who is Howard Lutnick and why did he call Canada 'a socialist regime' that feeds off America?

Howard Lutnick made headlines this week, ahead of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, by calling Canada “a socialist regime” that feeds off of America. He has said, as a result, that he is skeptical a trade deal can be made with America’s northern neighbour. Who is Howard Lutnick? Lutnick, 63, is an American billionaire businessman , philanthropist, and politician who is serving as the 41st United States Secretary of Commerce . He assumed office in February 2025 under President Donald Trump. His estimated net worth is between $2 billion and $4 billion, stemming largely from his ownership stake in Cantor Fitzgerald. He is a graduate of Haverford College and is married with four children. Lutnick is best known for his lengthy tenure as chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald , a major Wall Street financial services firm. He survived the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, which claimed the lives of 658 Cantor Fitzgerald employees, including his brother. He then became widely recognized for leading the firm’s recovery and his charitable work supporting the families of victims through the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund. In government, Lutnick has been a vocal advocate for aggressive trade policies, including broad tariffs, and oversees major economic initiatives such as semiconductor manufacturing and broadband expansion. What does he do as secretary of commerce? He oversees the Department of Commerce , which employs about 50,000 people and manages a wide range of activities, including collecting economic data (like the census), issuing weather reports, and running agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A key element of his role is to implement and manage U.S. trade policy, especially President Trump’s aggressive tariff agenda, negotiating trade deals, and enforcing trade restrictions with both allies and adversaries. He also advocates for American industries in international trade negotiations. He has been overseeing federal investments in technology and infrastructure , such as funding new semiconductor (computer chip) factories, expanding broadband access, and advancing domestic mining and manufacturing. He shapes U.S. policy on artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and technology exports, including restricting certain technologies from being transferred abroad and advising on cryptocurrency regulation. What is Lutnick’s view of Trump’s tariffs? Lutnick is a strong public supporter of tariffs as a tool to protect American industry and reset the global trade balance. He has repeatedly defended President Trump’s aggressive tariff policies , arguing that they are necessary to revive U.S. manufacturing and address what he describes as decades of unfair treatment by other countries. He has stated that the new tariffs are “here to stay” and not open to negotiation, emphasizing that this marks a major shift in U.S. trade policy. And he insists “the rest of the world has been ripping us off for all these many years” and that the U.S. must now “protect ourselves.” Lutnick has also said that companies unhappy with tariffs should consider moving their production to the United States. However, while he is a vocal advocate for tariffs in public, behind the scenes, Lutnick has reportedly sometimes urged a more moderate approach , including proposing delays or targeted relief for certain industries when market turmoil or business concerns arise. Lutnick believes America’s manufacturing , auto , agriculture and tech industries will benefit most from tariffs. What is Lutnick’s position on Canada? Lutnick takes a skeptical and confrontational stance toward Canada regarding trade. He has repeatedly referred to Canada as a “socialist regime” that is economically dependent on the United States and benefits disproportionately from the relationship. He questions why the U.S. manufactures cars and produces films in Canada , suggesting that these practices should be reconsidered to favour American industry. He has been critical of Canada’s retaliatory tariffs in response to U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs, blasting them as “tone deaf.” Although he has occasionally hinted at the possibility of compromise or scaling back tariffs, his overall position remains that the U.S. must be treated with more respect and that the current trade dynamic is unbalanced. How has Canada responded to Lutnick’s comments? Canada has responded to Lutnick’s comments on tariffs and the broader U.S. tariff policy by taking a firm, measured approach. Mark Carney has publicly rejected Lutnick’s and Trump’s aggressive stance, declaring that America’s threats to “weaken us so that America can claim ownership” will “never … ever occur,” while also acknowledging that the relationship has fundamentally shifted. However, despite the tensions, Carney has also struck a conciliatory note, emphasizing a desire for continued partnership even amid disagreements. Canadian officials described recent meetings with Lutnick as “constructive,” but made clear they do not expect immediate changes to the U.S. administration’s “punishing tariffs.” Canada continues to seek dialogue while maintaining its countermeasures, as seen in the Oval Office meeting.

• 'Just say thank you': Lutnick says Canada is acting like Ukraine in Trump negotiations
• Doug Ford to meet U.S. commerce secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington as tariff fight continues

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