Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford said he fully supports retaliatory tariffs and brings as much pain to Americans as possible after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on auto imports.
Ford said he spoke with Prime Minister Mark Carney and asked him to convene a meeting of the First Minister “as soon as possible.”
President Trump is calling [April 2nd] “Liberation Day” I call it “end date”, Ford said at a press conference in Queens Park late Wednesday. “I know President Trump likes to tell people, ‘You’re fired,’ I don’t think he means a car worker in America”
“I can assure you one thing: We will make sure that as much pain as possible to the American people without causing pain to the Canadian population.”
Cars built in Mexico and Canada will be subject to lower tax rates based on the percentage of cars built in these countries, according to an executive order signed by Trump. The tariff will not be applied immediately to parts shipped under the USMCA agreement, but will ultimately be based on the value of the non-US components of the part.
Vehicles and auto parts account for 30% of Ontario’s exports.
Ford said he didn’t send any surcharges on Ontario’s electricity to three states, but was still on the table.
The Prime Minister also called it a “terrible coincidence” and Trump’s announcement was Controversy surrounding his defense minister heating.
