The prospect for growing export opportunities for both countries — not fears over Trump administration tariffs — dominated the state’s four-day trade mission to Canada last week.

“We all agreed that we hoped that the tariff issues get resolved soon but regardless we have deep and lasting economic and personal relationships that we are going to make even stronger together,” Gov Kelly Ayotte said in an interview.

President Donald Trump’s mocking invitation for Canada to become the 51st state has been universally condemned by officials north of the border.

Last March, Trump imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum and then raised it to 50% in June and applied it to derivative products.

But Ayotte said in her visits to Nova Scotia, Montreal and Quebec City, business leaders were most focu

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