US-Canada tariff war: Ontario Premier Doug Ford says Donald Trump is treating Canada ‘like Communist China’

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has accused US President Donald Trump of treating Canada like Communist China after the imposition of 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian imports. Ford emphasized that Canada and the US are the closest allies the US has, and he does not want to lose that relationship. In an interview with Bloomberg Television, Ford confirmed that the trade war had become "a little heated" and that he "hit back" at Trump's insults.

He suggested that the prime minister and the president should sit down to negotiate a fair deal for both nations.

Following the collapse of trade talks and the US decision to impose the tariffs, Canada responded by imposing counter-tariffs on various products, including steel, aluminum, furniture, clothing, cheese, appliances, seafood, electronics, and tools. The Canadian government aimed to protect domestic industries while limiting the impact on consumers. However, the escalating tariffs could pose challenges for Canadian businesses, as they would face increased costs and disrupted supply chains.

The tariffs mark a significant escalation in trade tensions, and both countries have increasingly resorted to trade barriers amidst hostile rhetoric. The US threatened to double tariffs on Canadian autos to 50%, which Ford strongly rejected. Trump described Ford as "a flunky of Carney's," while Ford retorted that Lake Ontario would remain Lake Ontario regardless of any renaming. Canada announced plans to double its counter-tariffs on steel and aluminum from the US to 50%, along with new duties on various imported products.

Canada can also impact the US by adjusting electricity transmission levels. The country supplies electricity to more than 20 US states, but Ford stated that he was not considering cutting off electricity to the US for now. Instead, he suggested imposing surcharges, and he hoped to send more electricity to the US. Ford has previously imposed a 25% surcharge on electricity supplied to three US states during the trade war, but later reversed the decision to facilitate trade discussions.