Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed agency opposition to President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada this weekend, saying that the results of a commerce warfare may very well be dangerous to each international locations.
“Everybody’s feeling bullied by President Trump, and that is the worst factor you possibly can do for the American financial system,” Ford advised ABC Information’ “This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz. “I simply do not see the aim. It is completely backwards.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford on ‘This Week.’
ABC Information
The U.S. and Canada — two often shut allies — are as soon as once more locked in a commerce warfare. Trump announced he would add 50% tariffs to many Canadian items after commerce talks between the 2 international locations fell aside. Canada responded, adding retaliatory tariffs on many U.S. items beginning Sept. 8.
The U.S. and Canada have lengthy had a robust commerce relationship, because the U.S. is Canada’s largest buying and selling accomplice. Greater than 70% of complete exports in Canada go to the U.S., and practically 60% of imports to Canada come from the U.S.
One large motive for the commerce deficit is oil: of the crude oil the U.S. imports from different international locations, 60% comes from Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney mentioned.
However over the weekend, the U.S. and Venezuela reached a deal for the U.S. to take a majority stake in additional than 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan oil reserves.
Raddatz requested Ford in regards to the deal and whether or not it offers the U.S. leverage.
“Canada makes up 60% of the US’ crude oil imports. Does this give him an even bigger bargaining chip?” Raddatz requested.
“Effectively, you realize one thing? That is going to be as much as President Trump. Who do you wish to cope with? An unstable authorities like Venezuela, or do you wish to cope with your No. 1 buying and selling accomplice, your No. 1 ally?” Ford mentioned.
Final week, Trump additionally mentioned he would double the auto tariffs on Canada beginning Jan. 1, 2027, writing on social media that “Canada shall be handled like a state not.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford waves at supporters earlier than chatting with the media in regards to the collapse of commerce talks between Canada and the US, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, August 24, 2026.
Carlos Osorio/Reuters
Ford mentioned that if the auto tariffs have been doubled, the consequence can be “devastating” for each international locations.
“It would be devastating on each international locations, nevertheless it’d be positively devastating on the U.S. We are the largest purchaser of autos in your complete world off the U.S. … they usually’re already seeing the impact,” Ford mentioned. “A tariff on Canada is nothing greater than a tax on American individuals, and it is in all probability the worst transfer he might ever do.”
Because the commerce warfare started, the assaults and insults have prolonged past commerce. After bashing Canadian leaders on social media, Trump signed an government order final week renaming Lake Ontario — one of many 5 Nice Lakes which is in each the U.S. and Canada — as “Lake America.” Ford referred to as that transfer “disappointing.”
“It was like one thing out of ‘Saturday Night time Reside’ when he signed paperwork saying change to Lake America. Nobody’s going to name it Lake of America. It has been Lake Ontario for tons of of years. It will proceed being Lake Ontario, and it is simply so, so disappointing,” Ford mentioned.
Regardless of the back-and-forth criticism, Ford made it clear that he loves the American individuals, simply not their authorities.
“I really like the American individuals. Canadians love the American individuals,” Ford mentioned. “We differentiate between the good American individuals and the president.”
