Ontario Premier Doug Ford and President Trump traded extra barbs over their escalating tariff warfare Thursday — with Ford vowing to “by no means roll over” to America’s calls for and Trump insisting the US’s northern neighbor can be higher off because the 51st state.
“Because the premier of Ontario, I’m alleged to roll over? I’ll by no means roll over,” Ford informed Fox Information Thursday, shortly earlier than he met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to debate the tenuous tariff scenario.
“Inflation goes to occur. A tariff on Canada is a tax on the American individuals,” he added.
These feedback come simply two days after Ford — who beforehand mentioned his province would reduce off the ability it provides to a number of US states “with a smile on my face” if Trump didn’t again down from his 25% tariffs — introduced he was suspending plans for retaliatory tariffs on electrical energy exports.
“There’s a fever pitch proper now. We have to deliver down the temperature. And I assumed it will be in the very best curiosity of America and Canada,” he mentioned, explaining that he backed off from his retaliatory threats within the hopes that the 2 nations might calmly come to the negotiating desk.
However Ford — the chief of Canada’s Conservative social gathering and a longtime supporter of Trump — made it clear he wouldn’t give in to US strain and that the president was “disappointing” him.
“That is hurting the American individuals. The markets are talking,” Ford mentioned. “The world is watching proper now. Why assault your greatest neighbor, your treasured ally?”
“This doesn’t my sense. Mark my phrases, it will harm the American individuals,” he added.
Canada has been largely matching the brand new tariffs imposed by the US, and on Thursday launched a brand new 25% tariff on metal and aluminum in response to the identical motion from Trump on these metals the day earlier than.
Trump tacked on an extra 25% tariff on different merchandise from Canada and Mexico — however these have been postponed til April 2.
However whilst inventory markets have plummeted over the erratic commerce warfare, Trump remained resolute in his plans whereas talking to reporters Thursday — and doubled down on his stance that the troubles would all go away if Canada turned a US state.
“We don’t want something they’ve. As a state, it will be one of many nice states anyway,” Trump mentioned. “This may be probably the most unbelievable nation visually.”
“We don’t want their lumber, we don’t want their vitality,” he mentioned, including that he liked Canada’s nationwide anthem and that they might retain it in the event that they joined the union.
“Hold it. However will probably be for the state, one among our best states, possibly our best state.”
The president’s feedback about turning Canada into the 51st state appeared to be a joke when he first floated the concept after his November election, however the prospect has come more and more to the fore as he’s ramped up the commerce warfare with the US’s northern neighbor.
After the primary tariffs had been introduced earlier in March, outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speculated that Trump was making an attempt to weaken the Canadian economic system so the US might extra simply soak up it — however vowed Canadians wouldn’t give in.
“We’ll by no means be the 51st state, however he can do injury to the Canadian economic system, and he’s began this morning, however he’s quickly going to seek out out as American households are going to seek out out, that that’s going to harm individuals on each side of the border,” Trudeau mentioned on the time.
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