Trump’s Tariffs: Why Ford Wants a Strong Response
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is advising Prime Minister Mark Carney that this is not the moment to "back down" as Canada braces for the new escalation of a trade conflict initiated by US President Donald Trump.
He is not alone in his views; opinions are mixed on the best course of action regarding retaliation.
"Canada should accept nothing less than a fair agreement. Now is not the moment to capitulate. We must hold our position," Ford expressed in a social media post on Thursday, shortly after Trump increased tariffs on Canadian exports from 25 percent to 35 percent.
Ford called for stronger measures in response.
"The federal government should respond with a 50 percent tariff on U.S. steel and aluminum," the politician remarked.
"Canada supplies the United States with essential resources like oil and gas, important minerals, steel and aluminum, energy, potash, and uranium. The premier of Ontario remarked, 'We are the top supplier for America and support millions of jobs for Americans,' urging Carney to 'leverage our position and remain resolute.'
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston has suggested that his administration is looking into its own potential counteractions.
'Our administration will keep aiding our province and all of Canada. There is no doubt: at the provincial level, we will not hesitate to take retaliatory actions if required,' Houston declared in a statement.
At the same time, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe cautioned that any counter-tariffs implemented by Ottawa would negatively impact Canadian businesses and consumers."
"We need to think about our direction in the North American trade environment, which could have few or no tariffs. Moe stated to the media on Friday, 'I believe our initial action as Canadians should be to lower and possibly remove certain counter-tariffs that are currently enforced.' 'Someone will need to take action in this area, and we propose that Canada should lead the way.'"
"Canada's largest private-sector union supported Ford's call to action.
"I agree with Premier Ford that we must be willing to utilize any leverage to win as much as possible under these circumstances. And I believe Canada has more strength and leverage than any other country when dealing with the United States," Unifor President Lana Payne told Global News.
"The president will continue to demand more and more, and so we have to draw a line in the sand and push back hard, but also make sure that we're protecting these workers and these industries."
Payne explained that retaliation might take numerous forms.
"It could be a further response in terms of tariffs on the United States. It could indicate export controls. It could suggest that we are stockpiling crucial minerals. It could refer to any number of things. "We just need to recognize that we have a lot of power," she remarked.
"We need to be willing to use it. We have placed everything on the table and will be strategic about what we do here.
'We must be willing to use it. We have laid everything on the table and will act strategically in this matter.'
However, business groups are advising caution. Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, noted that while there may be considerable public support for additional retaliatory tariffs, such measures could lead to increased trade uncertainty.