I recently watched Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s blistering critique of Donald Trump’s proposed tariff policies during his CNN appearance yesterday. The normally diplomatic Ford didn’t mince words, calling the Republican presidential nominee’s trade threats economic sabotage that would harm Americans and Canadians alike.
“He wants to hurt the American people,” Ford told CNN’s Jake Tapper, his voice rising with unusual emotion for a Canadian provincial leader commenting on U.S. politics. “These aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. We’re talking about real jobs, real families on both sides of the border.”
The interview marks a significant shift in Ford’s previously cautious approach to U.S.-Canada relations. As premier of Ontario—Canada’s manufacturing heartland—Ford has historically maintained positive relations with American leaders across party lines. However, Trump’s renewed promise of 25% tariffs on all Canadian imports appears to have crossed a red line.
Ford cited alarming statistics from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce projecting potential losses of 120,000 jobs across the province should Trump’s proposed tariffs materialize. The auto sector would be particularly devastated, with the integrated supply chain seeing parts crossing the border multiple times before final assembly.
“A car assembled in Michigan has parts from Windsor. A refrigerator made in Ohio uses Canadian steel. We’re not competitors—we’re partners,” Ford explained, gesturing emphatically. “What happens when you suddenly make those supply chains 25% more expensive? Everyone loses.”
The premier’s concerns aren’t without foundation. According to U.S. Commerce Department data, Canada remains America’s largest trading partner, with two-way trade totaling nearly $800 billion annually. The deeply integrated economies support approximately 9 million U.S. jobs tied directly to Canadian trade and investment.
When Tapper asked about Trump’s claim that Canadian trade policies have been “taking advantage” of the United States, Ford’s frustration became palpable. “That’s completely backwards. The U.S. actually runs a trade surplus with Canada in manufactured goods. The numbers don’t lie.”
Ford’s uncharacteristically direct criticism reflects growing anxiety among Canadian officials about the potential economic fallout from another Trump presidency. While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has maintained diplomatic language regarding the U.S. election, provincial leaders like Ford are increasingly vocal about the potential consequences of protectionist policies.
Lisa Raitt, former Canadian Transport Minister and current Vice-Chair of Global Investment Banking at CIBC, told me the interview signals broader concerns. “When Doug Ford—who’s generally seen as ideologically aligned with conservatives south of the border—speaks this forcefully, it demonstrates how serious these tariff threats are viewed across the political spectrum in Canada.”
The economic integration between Ontario and neighboring U.S. states runs particularly deep. Michigan, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania together receive approximately 80% of Ontario’s exports, creating a regional economy that transcends the international boundary.
“People forget we fought two world wars together, we’re in NATO together, we share the longest undefended border in the world,” Ford said, his voice softening momentarily. “When Americans hurt, Canadians hurt. And these tariffs would hurt everyone.”
The CNN interview has garnered significant attention in both countries, with #FordvsTrump trending on social media yesterday afternoon. Republican governors from border states have remained notably silent on Ford’s comments, caught between Trump’s tariff promises and the economic reality of their states’ dependence on Canadian trade.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman described Ford’s comments as “unusually direct but entirely accurate” in an email exchange. “The integrated nature of our economies means tariffs wouldn’t simply impact foreign competitors—they would disrupt American businesses that depend on Canadian inputs.”
As I’ve reported previously from both sides of the border, the automotive sector represents the most visible example of this integration. The average vehicle crosses the border seven times during production, with components manufactured in both countries before final assembly.
Ford concluded the interview with what seemed like a direct appeal to American voters: “Before supporting policies that sound tough on trade, ask yourself: Who really pays? It’s not some faceless foreign entity—it’s your neighbors, your communities, and ultimately, your own wallet.”
Whether his message resonates with American voters remains to be seen, but Ford’s CNN appearance underscores the anxiety rippling through Canadian leadership as the U.S. election approaches and the specter of protectionist policies looms large over the world’s most successful trading partnership.
