By KEVIN MCCABE
When House Joint Resolution 11 first came to the Alaska Legislature, it looked like a straightforward recognition of our long, important relationship with Canada — a relationship built on shared borders, economic ties, and mutual reliance. But as we dug into the resolution, two big problems jumped out.
First, why was the Alaska Legislature inserting itself into a federal trade dispute between Canada and the Trump administration?
Second, we were concerned that the resolution would be taken as a slap at the President’s trade policies — policies aimed at protecting American jobs and industries. Whether you agree with his approach or not, the President’s job was to fight for better deals for the country, and Alaska didn’t need to get in the way of that.
Still, HJR11 had momentum. It was clear the resolution would pass, and simply opposing it wouldn’t accomplish anything. So, we took a different route. We amended the resolution to protect Alaska’s interests and give President Trump more leverage in his negotiations with Canada. Two of our amendments passed unanimously — though some social media posts and news articles conveniently left those out of their reports.
HJR11 correctly pointed out Alaska’s deep economic ties to Canada: $596 million in annual exports, $753 million in imports, and over 20,000 Alaskan jobs connected to this partnership. It acknowledged the Alaska-Canada Highway, the Alaska Marine Highway, and cross-border communities like Stewart, BC, and Hyder, Alaska, as vital parts of that relationship. These are facts no one disputes.
But then the resolution veered off track. It acknowledged Canada’s high tariffs on U.S. goods, which led to counter-tariffs imposed by the Trump administration — but then warned these tariffs could “threaten this unique, mutually beneficial relationship.” Those Trump tariffs weren’t just random penalties — they were part of a larger strategy to renegotiate outdated trade deals that hurt American businesses and workers. That strategy worked. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was replaced with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a better, fairer deal for the U.S.
The Alaska Legislature had no business taking a position against that strategy. Trade policy is a federal issue. By criticizing the President’s approach, HJR11 risked making Alaska look like it was siding with Canada over our own federal government. Worse, it could send the wrong message to Washington at a time when we need support for infrastructure, resource development, and other critical priorities.
Knowing HJR11 was going to pass, our idea was to flip the script and make it something Trump could use. We added an amendment that shifted the focus from criticizing tariffs to defending Alaska’s essential transportation links and economic interests. The amendment specifically highlighted the Alaska-Canada Highway’s role in connecting Alaskans to the Lower 48 and raised a critical concern: what happens if Canada retaliates by closing roads?
We didn’t pull this idea from thin air. Canada has a history of using road closures to make a political point, and the last thing Alaska needs is to be cut off from the rest of the country because of a trade fight we didn’t start. Our amendment also pointed to the Shakwak road project — a Canadian infrastructure project funded in part by Alaska. Millions of Alaskan dollars are still tied up in that project. We made it clear: if Canada blocks roads and hurts Alaska, we’re prepared to rethink that funding. Alaska’s money shouldn’t bankroll infrastructure in a country that’s willing to shut down our access for political leverage. Canada is our friend, but even friends occasionally need a reminder of your value.
The amendment passed without a single objection — a win for Alaska and Trump. But, predictably, some skipped over that part when they posted and wrote about the resolution later. They made it sound like the original version passed untouched. Maybe they didn’t understand what we did, maybe they didn’t want to acknowledge it, or maybe they just don’t see the strategy. Either way, the record speaks for itself. We turned a flawed resolution into one that protects Alaskans, strengthens our position in any future trade disputes, and takes Alaska away from Canada as a card they can use against President Trump.
Look, we all had our reasons for voting how we did. We’re not here to drag anyone through the mud. But we stand by our decision. Alaska’s Legislature shouldn’t be in the business of undermining the President while he’s working to secure better trade deals for the entire country.
In the end, HJR11 started as a feel-good resolution that wandered into anti-Trump territory. We rewrote it into something that defends Alaska’s economy, reminds Canada of our leverage, and supports the President’s efforts to negotiate a better deal. Alaska has always valued its partnership with Canada, and that won’t change. But our job — first and foremost — is to protect Alaskans. Our amendments to HJR11 ensure Alaska won’t be a bargaining chip in someone else’s trade war.
Rep. Kevin McCabe is a legislator from Big Lake, Alaska.
