🇨🇦🔥 CANADA’S “BAD COP” DECLARES WAR ON TRUMP
Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, has become one of Canada’s most combative faces in the growing trade war with the United States.
After the failure of the negotiations and the imposition of new U.S. tariffs, Ford decided to raise the stakes against Donald Trump, even calling him a “dictator,” a “loser,” and a “king of bankruptcies.” He even told him he could “kiss my ass.” (The Wall Street Journal)
But the confrontation isn’t simply a clash of egos.
Ontario is Canada’s most populous province and the heart of its manufacturing industry. The region is especially exposed to the new U.S. tariffs: 50% on steel and 25% on automobiles, with hundreds of thousands of jobs at stake.
Ford has thus become Canada’s “bad cop”: while Prime Minister Mark Carney tries to keep negotiations open, Ford is pushing for a much more aggressive stance toward Washington.
And it’s not the first time.
In earlier episodes, Ford threatened to tax Ontario’s electricity exports to the United States and supported restrictions on American products. He also launched advertising campaigns on U.S. television criticizing Trump’s tariffs.
Now, however, the situation is much more dangerous.
Trade negotiations between the two countries have broken down, and the United States has just imposed 50% tariffs on approximately US$20 billion worth of Canadian products, while Ottawa is preparing equivalent retaliation.
Ford knows that Ontario has a lot to lose.
But he also knows that, politically, taking on Trump can turn him into the symbol of a Canada that refuses to back down.
🇨🇦 The question is how long Canada can hold out before the trade war stops being just politics and starts hitting jobs, industries, and consumers directly.
Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, has become one of Canada’s most combative faces in the growing trade war with the United States.
After the failure of the negotiations and the imposition of new U.S. tariffs, Ford decided to raise the stakes against Donald Trump, even calling him a “dictator,” a “loser,” and a “king of bankruptcies.” He even told him he could “kiss my ass.” (The Wall Street Journal)
But the confrontation isn’t simply a clash of egos.
Ontario is Canada’s most populous province and the heart of its manufacturing industry. The region is especially exposed to the new U.S. tariffs: 50% on steel and 25% on automobiles, with hundreds of thousands of jobs at stake.
Ford has thus become Canada’s “bad cop”: while Prime Minister Mark Carney tries to keep negotiations open, Ford is pushing for a much more aggressive stance toward Washington.
And it’s not the first time.
In earlier episodes, Ford threatened to tax Ontario’s electricity exports to the United States and supported restrictions on American products. He also launched advertising campaigns on U.S. television criticizing Trump’s tariffs.
Now, however, the situation is much more dangerous.
Trade negotiations between the two countries have broken down, and the United States has just imposed 50% tariffs on approximately US$20 billion worth of Canadian products, while Ottawa is preparing equivalent retaliation.
Ford knows that Ontario has a lot to lose.
But he also knows that, politically, taking on Trump can turn him into the symbol of a Canada that refuses to back down.
🇨🇦 The question is how long Canada can hold out before the trade war stops being just politics and starts hitting jobs, industries, and consumers directly.
