Doug Ford on additional Trump tariffs: Canadians will 'not back down'
Ontario Premier Doug Ford fired back at President Trump following his latest vow to double tariffs on steel and aluminum, saying during an interview that Canada will “not back down” and called on the commander in chief to shift his focus on China instead of the U.S.'s northern neighbor.
“We will not back down. We will be relentless. I apologize to the American people that President Trump decided to have an unprovoked attack on our country, on families, on jobs, and it’s unacceptable. Let’s work together. Let’s get to the table if he has issues, and let’s sort this out,” Ford said during his Tuesday appearance on MSNBC.
Ford warned that if the tariff war between Washington and Ottawa continues, factories in the U.S. could face shutdowns. The Ontario premier also urged Americans and business executives to speak out against the recent levies.
“You see the market tumbling. Consumer confidence is down, and if it continues on with this, the assembly plants in Michigan will shut down, and around the country, whoever makes autos as well as businesses, they are going to hurt and these pensions — when the market goes down, it’s going to affect people’s pensions, so I am not too sure why he continues to attack his closest friends and allies,” Ford said Tuesday.
“But we need the American people to speak up, we need the CEOs to actually get a backbone and stand in front of him and tell him that this is going to be a disaster,” the premier added.
Trump said Tuesday that he was doubling planned tariffs on Canada's steel and aluminum — from 25 percent to 50 percent — after Ontario’s government imposed an electricity surcharge a day earlier, affecting three U.S. states.
The commander in chief threatened to slap more levies against Ottawa, with his administration planning to implement reciprocal tariffs starting on April 2 on all nations that have a tax on U.S. goods. That would include an additional levy on cars, which the president said will “essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada.”
Ontario said that a 25 percent surcharge on electricity exports will start Monday, affecting Michigan, New York and Minnesota. The additional tax will impact about 1.5 million homes and businesses and cost up to $400,000 per day.
Ford said Tuesday that the tariff back-and-forth will hurt U.S. manufacturing.
“You need the aluminum. You need our high-grade nickel, and I want to send more high-grade nickel. You need our electricity. You need the 4.3 million barrels of oil that gets shipped down. I want to — I want to make sure we build an Am-Can fortress,” Ford stated, adding that “fighting like this does not make sense, but I will respond appropriately. ... Stay tuned."
Trump appeared to dismiss Ontario’s recent electricity surcharge, contending Canada is a tariff “abuser” and that Washington will get its money back once the reciprocal levies kick into effect on April 2.
“Because our Tariffs are reciprocal, we’ll just get it all back on April 2. Canada is a Tariff abuser, and always has been, but the United States is not going to be subsidizing Canada any longer,” Trump wrote Monday night on Truth Social. “We don’t need your Cars, we don’t need your Lumber, we don’t your Energy, and very soon, you will find that out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
If both North American countries plunge into a recession, only Trump should be blamed, Ford said. He also said the two sides should resolve the trade seesaw through talks, as the prolonged fight will end up harming both American and Canadian families.
“And it's not just American and Canadian. It's going to affect the whole world. While China is ramping up for the last 10 years, as we've all been sleeping, they're taking over the critical mineral sector in the entire world,” Ford told MSNBC’s Ana Cabrera.
“But there's one area that has more critical minerals than anywhere in the world — that's Ontario, and I want to make sure it goes to our closest friends and allies and protect America and Canada,” he added.
-
Ontario Premier Doug Ford talks tariffs on Canadian energy
Ontario Premier Doug Ford spoke with NBC News' Tom Llamas about his decision to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian electricity exports to three U.S. states in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's ...NBC News - 1d -
Ontario's Premier Doug Ford moving ahead with tariffs on the U.S.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford will start tariffs directed at the United States on Monday, unless President Trump's threat of a trade war with Canada comes to an end.CBS News - 3d -
Ontario sets 25% surcharge on energy exports to US to counter Trump tariffs
Premier Doug Ford says province ‘won’t back down’ until US president retracts duties on Canada. The Canadian province of Ontario is imposing a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the states ...The Guardian - 1d -
Canada backs down from 25% electricity surcharge after Trump threats
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday he had agreed to suspend a 25% surcharge on electricity imports into the United States after having conversed with U.S.NBC News - 15h -
U.S. makes concession, dropping additional 25 percent tariff on steel & aluminum: Ontario premier
Ontario Premier Doug Ford joins Meet the Press NOW to discuss his decisions to lift the 25% surcharge on electricity exports after speaking with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. It comes after ...NBC News - 9h -
Ontario premier says he needs 'to sit down as quickly as possible' with Trump on tariffs
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday that he needs "to sit down as quickly as possible" with President Trump regarding tariffs. ‘We're seeing inflation happening already, and it's unnecessary. We ...The Hill - 1d -
Trump retreats from 50% tariffs on Canadian metals. Here’s what comes next.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday backed off a 50% tariff on imports of Canadian steel and aluminum, ratcheting down a threat against a major U.S. trading partner on another day of whiplash for ...MarketWatch - 5h -
Markets open down again, Trump announces more tariffs against Canada
Traders on Wall Street hoping to rally back after Monday's major selloff are starting Tuesday with another dip. Meanwhile, President Trump has announced additional tariffs for Canada. CBS News' ...CBS News - 15h -
Trudeau steps down as tariff dispute continues
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stepped down Sunday. Meanwhile, the back-and-forth over tariffs continued. Ed O'Keefe reports.CBS News - 2d
More from The Hill
-
Judge declines to block DOGE from taking over African development agency
A federal judge on Tuesday declined to block the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from taking over the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF). U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ...The Hill - 1h -
Lutnick says Trump tariffs 'worth it' even if they lead to recession
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Tuesday that President Trump’s tariff policies will be worth it, even if the economy ends up in a recession. In an interview that aired Tuesday, CBS News’s ...The Hill - 2h -
Democrat wins special election for Minnesota state House seat
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) candidate David Gottfried is projected to win a special election for a seat in the Minnesota House, according to Decision Desk HQ. Gottfried, a pro bono ...The Hill - 2h -
GOP Rep. Mark Harris says Trump has done 'tremendous job' making case against Education Department
Rep. Mark Harris (R-N.C.) said on Tuesday that President Trump successfully made the case against the Department of Education during his 2024 campaign, leading more Republicans to support the ...The Hill - 2h -
Sununu on possible Senate bid: 'I have not ruled it out completely'
Former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) said he is considering running for Senate after previously rejecting the possibility. “I have not ruled it out completely, but folks in Washington have ...The Hill - 4h
More in Politics
-
Judge declines to block DOGE from taking over African development agency
A federal judge on Tuesday declined to block the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from taking over the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF). U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ...The Hill - 1h -
Lutnick says Trump tariffs 'worth it' even if they lead to recession
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Tuesday that President Trump’s tariff policies will be worth it, even if the economy ends up in a recession. In an interview that aired Tuesday, CBS News’s ...The Hill - 2h -
Democrat wins special election for Minnesota state House seat
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) candidate David Gottfried is projected to win a special election for a seat in the Minnesota House, according to Decision Desk HQ. Gottfried, a pro bono ...The Hill - 2h -
GOP Rep. Mark Harris says Trump has done 'tremendous job' making case against Education Department
Rep. Mark Harris (R-N.C.) said on Tuesday that President Trump successfully made the case against the Department of Education during his 2024 campaign, leading more Republicans to support the ...The Hill - 2h -
USAID staff instructed to clear out classified safes and shred or burn documents
"Shred as many documents first, and reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break," the email reads.CBS News - 3h