Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed confidence that U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick comprehends Canada’s stance regarding the ongoing trade conflict between the two nations and the potential “chaos” it may incite, following their phone conversation last night.
Ford shared these insights during an interview with ABC News on Wednesday morning.
This statement followed Lutnick’s remarks to Bloomberg, indicating that additional announcements regarding tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump are anticipated later today, with possible exemptions for certain industries.
“Firstly, Secretary Lutnick is an exceptionally intelligent individual. He possesses a deep understanding of markets and business,” Ford stated in the ABC News interview. “The tariffs have plunged the U.S. and Canada into significant turmoil over the past few days. The market has lost $3 trillion, and while it is beginning to recover, there is a strong demand for certainty, which is what I conveyed to the secretary. We should not be at odds with our closest friend and ally.”
Ford emphasized that Canada seeks a fair trade agreement and noted that Lutnick is aware of this.
“That was the essence of my message to him, and he gets it. He is genuinely a good man,” Ford remarked.
Additionally, Ford mentioned that privately, Republican lawmakers concur that the trade war is detrimental to the economies of both nations.
He reiterated his reluctance to retaliate against the U.S. economically but affirmed that he would do so if necessary.
“Canadians have a deep affection for Americans and the United States,” Ford stated. “It is regrettable that this situation has arisen due to one individual – not the American populace or elected officials, but President Trump. We may have to respond, even though we would prefer not to, against our closest friends and allies.”
Ford did not provide further details regarding his potential imposition of export tariffs or the possibility of halting electricity exports to the U.S., which supply power to 1.5 million American homes.
He cautioned that retaliatory tariffs threatened by Trump would only exacerbate the situation.
Ford expressed concern, stating, “If he proceeds with that course of action, it will merely create a cycle of back and forth, ultimately harming both Americans and Canadians. We may witness plant closures in the United States, and potentially, assembly lines within the automotive sector could shut down within the next five days. The rationale behind this is beyond my comprehension.”
In a separate interview with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Lutnick indicated that another announcement from Trump is anticipated today following their discussion. He implied that it might involve some form of compromise.
“My perspective is that the resolution will likely fall somewhere in the middle,” Lutnick remarked. “It will not be an all-encompassing ban on products, nor will it be a complete absence of restrictions. I believe both Mexico and Canada are making earnest efforts, and we will see where this leads us. Therefore, I consider a middle-ground solution to be a probable outcome.”