Trump tariffs latest: US ambassador to Canada receives death threat and white powder as trade war looms

Package threat 'wholly unacceptable' says foreign minister

US Ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft received a threat in the mail that contained a suspicious white powder just as trade tensions between the two countries are high (REUTERS/Chris Wattie)

The US Ambassador to Canada received death threats after tensions increased between US President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the issue of tariffs.

Ambassador Kelly Craft received a package containing a death threat and white powder. The package was addressed to the US Embassy in Ottawa, however, it was discovered at her residence.

The package came with a note, filled with expletives, that also threatened Mr Trump and his family in addition to Ms Kraft, according to reports. The Secret Service, Ottawa police, and the US Embassy did not publicly addressed the matter or respond immediately to a request for comment.

Police are investigating and a test of the powder determined it was not harmful. Mr Trudeau and other officials have reached out and offered support to Ms Kraft and her family.

Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland tweeted that it was “wholly unacceptable” and that Ms Kraft “does an essential and difficult job and Canada respects her service”. The pair had just held a meeting regarding US tariffs.

The threat, first reported by Bloomberg News, comes as Mr Trump and Mr Trudeau just attended the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Quebec, after which Mr Trump said his Canadian counterpart was “dishonest and weak”.

Mr Trudeau had expressed anger that tariffs had been placed on the longtime US ally and neighbour’s steel and aluminium under the guise of national security concerns.

The US has also placed duties on Canadian softwood lumber and Mr Trump has repeatedly complained that dairy imports are harming the US sector.

In turn, Canada has placed a “dollar-for-dollar” tariff on US steel, aluminium, and whiskies, Bloomberg reported.

Mr Trump had said originally that he would sign on to the joint communique issued after every G7 meeting, but rescinded just before departing for his Singapore summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Adding fuel to the fire, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro went on Fox News and said there was a “special place in hell” for Mr Trudeau. He later apologised.

Larry Kudlow, Mr Trump’s economic adviser, said Canada had “kind of stabbed [the US] in the back”.

The threat also comes at a time when some Canadian politicians have said they will boycott Ms Kraft’s 4 July celebration in honour of American independence, typically the largest event the envoy hosts annually due to the dispute over tariffs and the ongoing re-negotiations for the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta).