‘A tariff on Canada is a tax on the American people,’ insisted Ontario Premier Doug Ford, before his surprising admission
“This does not make sense. Mark my words, this will hurt the American people,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford warned, amid the ongoing trade war between the US and Canada.
On March 14, the 60-year-old leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, Doug Ford, met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to discuss the tariffs imposed on Canada by President Donald Trump, aiming to de-escalate the growing trade tensions. Prior to the meeting, Ford made it clear in an interview with Fox News that Canada wouldn’t back down easily. He emphasized that the tariffs on Canadian imports would ultimately harm everyday Americans.
“As the premier of Ontario, am I supposed to just roll over? I’ll never roll over,” Ford asserted. “These tariffs are just a tax on the American people, and inflation will follow.”
But after the meeting with Lutnick, Ford appeared much more optimistic, telling reporters, “It was a great conversation. Very, very positive on both sides of the table.” It seemed the discussion had made significant strides in easing the tension between the two nations.
The surprising turn of events came just two days after Doug Ford threatened to impose a hefty surcharge on electricity exports to retaliate against the tariffs the US had placed on Canadian imports.
At a press conference on March 11, Ford declared, “We will apply maximum pressure to maximize our leverage.” He revealed that Ontario would be moving forward with a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the US, a bold move that could impact 1.5 million American homes and businesses across states like Minnesota, Michigan, and New York.
“This surcharge will cost families and businesses in these states up to $400,000 every single day,” Ford explained. “On average, it will add around $100 per month to the bills of hardworking Americans.” The move sent a strong message that Canada was prepared to escalate the trade battle if necessary.
The following day, Doug Ford made a public apology to Americans during an appearance on New York’s WABC radio station, offering a change of tone after his earlier threat to impose the electricity surcharge.
Explaining his decision to back off from the retaliatory measures, Ford said, “There’s a fever pitch right now. We need to bring down the temperature. I thought it would be in the best interest of both America and Canada.” He continued, “This is hurting the American people. The markets are speaking.”
Ford also emphasized the broader implications of the trade conflict, adding, “The world is watching right now. Why attack your best neighbor, your treasured ally? This doesn’t make sense. Mark my words, this will hurt the American people.” His message was clear: escalating tensions would ultimately have a negative impact on both sides.
