Ford calls on Carney to retaliate against Trump’s latest tariff punch immediately
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he will “be all over” the federal government to retaliate against U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest economic wallop to the steel and aluminum industry.
Speaking to reporters at Queen’s Park hours after the U.S. doubled levies on steel and aluminum imports, the premier suggested Ottawa and Washington are close to a deal but still wants to see Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government “slap another 25 per cent on their steel.”
“We can’t sit back and let President Trump steamroll us,” said Ford. “Every single day that it goes by gives uncertainty through the sectors, it adds additional cost on the steel. So we need to react immediately.”
Canada’s envoy to Washington, Ambassador Kirsten Hillman, said it’s “too soon to say we are close” to a deal.
“It was a good conversation but we have more work to do,” she said in a statement. “We will stand firm until we get the right deal for Canada.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation to officially increase steel and aluminum tariffs to 50 per cent, up from the previously announced 25 per cent tariffs. Despite another round of talks between Canadian officials and their U.S. counterparts, Canada is not exempt from the tariff hike.
Carney did not commit to further retaliation Wednesday morning and would only say his government is having “intensive discussions” with the United States to remove what he calls an “unjustified and illegal” increase.
Stopping briefly to speak to reporters, Carney reiterated what his office already put in a written statement — that there are ongoing discussions between the two countries to chart a new economic and security deal.
“We will take some time — not much — some time because we are in intensive discussions right now with the Americans on the trading relationship,” Carney said ahead of a caucus meeting.
“Those discussions are progressing.”
The president argued the doubling in tariffs is necessary to protect national security and industries in the United States.
“They are bad for American workers, bad for American industry and, of course, for Canadian industry as well,” countered Carney.
In a statement on Tuesday, Carney’s office said all funds collected from Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on over $90 billion, before remissions, of U.S. imports will go to supporting Canadian workers and businesses impacted by the U.S. tariffs.
Canadian steel and aluminum industries say doubling the tariffs will have a devastating impact on the industry, which was already dealing with job losses and a drop in shipments. Canada is the top exporter of those metals to the U.S.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the government’s priority is to fight the tariffs.
“The steel and aluminum industry is key to Canada’s prosperity, and we’re going to be there fighting,” he said.
The Conservatives said they’ll push for an emergency debate in the House of Commons on Trump’s 50 per cent tariffs.
“The ‘elbows up’ prime minister promised Canadians he was the ‘man with a plan’ to stop U.S. tariffs on Canadian industry,” said Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman on social media.
“U.S. tariffs have only gotten worse since Carney took office.”
Carney and Trump will see each other in just over a week at the G7 meeting in Kananaskis, Alta.
