Ontario Premier Doug Ford warns against bad trade deal as U.S.-Canada tensions rise
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Ontario Premier Doug Ford said a trade agreement with the United States must be fair, warning that a poor deal would be worse than no deal amid escalating tariff threats.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford told CBS News that while he hopes Canadian officials and the Trump administration can reach a trade agreement, "no deal is better than a bad deal." He said the United States is "the closest friends and allies that the U.S. has anywhere in the entire world, and I want to keep it that way," but accused President Trump of treating Canada like "Communist China."
Negotiations ended last week without a deal, prompting the Trump administration to move forward with 50% tariffs on about $20 billion of Canadian goods. Justin Trudeau announced reciprocal 50% tariffs on certain U.S. products beginning Sept. 8.
The dispute has featured personal attacks. Trump called Ford "unimpressive" and a "flunky," while Ford labeled the president a "dictator" and mocked a suggestion to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America."
"I have to laugh when he comes up with these ideas. It's always going to be Lake Ontario here in Canada. … If he wants to name it Lake America, Lake Trump, whatever he wants to do, that's his prerogative," Ford said.
Ford described the proposed tariffs on Canadian automotive and steel imports as an "unprovoked attack on Canadians" and warned that both sides would suffer, especially in auto manufacturing and electricity exports. He noted that Canada has pledged aid to affected businesses and workers and has the financial capacity to weather the disruption, citing the United States' large national debt.
U.S. officials have blamed Canadian negotiators for last-minute demands, while Ford argued that Washington repeatedly changed the negotiation parameters. He concluded that a fair deal is essential for maintaining the long-standing trade relationship between the two countries.