Canada’s Doug Ford on Trump’s trade war: “If someone comes and hits you in the face … you have to stand up”
Washington – President Trump campaigned on low prices for Americans, but his trade war with Canada is raising prices for Americans, Ontario Premier Doug Ford told CBS News in an interview Friday.
At the beginning of the week, Mr. Trump announced 50% off prices. starting next month on Canadian goods, including hockey sticks and alcohol, on top of other taxes already paid in Canada and elsewhere. In response, Canada this week has withdrawn its invitations for US officials to attend the long-awaited opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.
Ford said Canadians love Americans, but said the president’s decision to “go after” America’s closest ally and trading partner Canada is hurting both nations. Shortly before Ford sat down with CBS News, Mr. Trump took to Truth Social to criticize Canada over the trade and bridge deal.
“We didn’t start this trade war,” Ford told CBS News senior White House and political correspondent Ed O’Keefe in an interview on “The Takeout.”
“President Trump decided to go after his close friend and friend, his No. 1 customer in the world. And yes, the US is our No. 1 customer. It is not necessary. We have to make sure that there is a guarantee that will create jobs and opportunities and production and low cost of goods. Yes, that was completely wrong,” said Ford.
“President Trump rushed to lower the cost of goods. They’re going up. You know, [he] campaign with confidence. Anything but certainty in both countries right now. And it’s unfortunate that he took this path with his best friend and colleague.”
The bridge, funded by Canada, officially opens on Monday, and the US will collect part of the revenue for the first 15 years once construction debts are paid. Canada is one of the United States’ largest trading partners, and Ford said the bridge will create jobs “on both sides of the border.”
“We have over $52 billion going back and forth in trade, two-way trade,” he said. “It will provide the opportunity to create tens of thousands of jobs on both sides of the border.”
The new expenses of Mr. Trump’s 50 percent tariff will begin in late August, covering nearly $20 billion in Canadian goods, from down feathers and hockey equipment to milk, honey and alcohol. The Trump administration said the funds were released in response to Canada’s retaliatory measures against US tariffs last year, including a Canadian tax on auto imports and a decision by Ontario and other provinces to remove American alcohol from their shelves.
Ford said he has not yet determined which Canadian goods the Trump administration will pay for next month.
“But tell me the prime minister, dollar for dollar, tax rate, and who is harming that?” he said. “It hurts the people of the United States, it hurts the people of Canada and Ontario. This doesn’t work. Protectionism doesn’t work anywhere in the world. We are the two largest countries in the world, the largest open border in the world, the two closest allies. And we didn’t start this war. President Trump decided to attack Canada economically.”
O’Keefe asked, why not try to defuse the situation?
“If someone comes and punches you in the face, not once, not twice, 10 times, you have to stop that person,” said Ford. “There is someone in the schoolyard who wants to take your lunch money, he will fight you. And I encourage the prime minister to fight.”
