Ontario Premier Doug Ford has publicly backed Prime Minister Mark Carney's decision to suspend trade negotiations with the United States and implement reciprocal tariffs following new U.S. tariffs. Ford stated that Canada must respond forcefully, reiterating Carney's pledge to match U.S. tariffs "dollar for dollar." He framed the tariff dispute as an "economic war" and stressed the importance of a united national response. Ford emphasized that "no deal is better than a bad deal" to protect Ontario's key auto, steel, and manufacturing sectors, and expressed satisfaction that a proposed deal, which he deemed detrimental to these industries, was not signed.
Ford urged Ottawa to prepare for further escalation, insisting that Ontario would not remove its retaliatory measures without a deal offering "significant relief" for its workers, businesses, and sectors. He called on the federal government to leverage Canada's economic advantages, including electricity, energy, and critical minerals, and consider additional retaliatory tariffs targeting imports from key U.S. states like Texas, Florida, Wisconsin, and Alabama. He also sought federal support for affected workers and businesses, along with measures to enhance the competitiveness of Ontario industries, such as regulatory relief for the automotive sector through changes to federal greenhouse gas emissions standards.
While acknowledging the tariffs will be "painful," Ford stated Ontario's economy is strong enough to withstand the economic hit and promised support for steel and auto workers who might lose their jobs. He also cautioned against accepting a deal merely to end the dispute, stressing that President Trump "cannot be trusted" in negotiations due to his tendency to "move the goalpost." Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath also weighed in on the situation, with Brown supporting the "tariff for tariff" approach and Horwath expressing concern for her city's steel industry, which accounts for approximately 60% of Canada's steel output. Economists estimate the new 50% U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, including cement, hockey sticks, wine, and dairy, could lead to 90,000 job losses and reduce Canada's GDP by 0.3% to 0.6%.
