CANADA IS A SOVEREIGN STATE

President Donald Trump's nominee to be the U.S. ambassador in Ottawa said on Thursday he views Canada as an independent nation, pledging to respect its sovereignty amid a global trade war and hostile rhetoric that has roiled diplomatic relations.

"Canada is a sovereign state, yes," Peter Hoekstra told his Senate confirmation hearing, when Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware asked if he agreed Canada is a sovereign state and should not be even jokingly referred to as the 51st state.

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