Trade War Without Diplomacy: Ford Fires Back at Trump

The trade dispute between Canada and the United States has escalated into an open war of words. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, responding to the latest threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, said during an interview on Newstalk 580 CFRA that Trump could “kiss my ass.”

Ford’s blunt reaction followed a post by Trump on Truth Social. The U.S. president threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, automotive parts and steel to 50 per cent beginning January 1, 2027. The announcement came after the latest round of trade negotiations between Ottawa and Washington collapsed.

The proposed agreement could have reduced U.S. tariffs on Canadian cars and light-duty trucks from 25 to 15 per cent, while tariffs on steel and aluminum could have fallen from 50 to 25 per cent. The negotiations reportedly failed partly because the two sides could not agree on the treatment of medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

Ford described Trump as a “bully” who was acting arrogantly and called on Canada to use every available economic lever. He suggested that retaliatory measures could include higher prices for Canadian oil, natural gas, electricity, potash, uranium and rare-earth metals exported to the United States.

Prime Minister Mark Carney had already announced that Canada would respond “dollar for dollar” to new 50-per-cent U.S. tariffs affecting approximately $28 billion worth of Canadian goods.

Ford said his main concern was not political advantage but Canadian jobs and the protection of the national economy. Nevertheless, the increasingly confrontational language suggests that the trade dispute between the two closely connected neighbours is entering a dangerous new phase.

By Anna Prokhodko