Premier Doug Ford’s U.S. media blitz may be forcing President Donald Trump to change the channel on his costly trade war with Canada.
In a world where Trump is fixated on cable news channels, Ford’s almost daily interviews on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and CNBC, as well ABC and CBS, appear to be having an impact.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House, the president referred to the premier of Ontario, whom he did not mention by name, as “a very strong man” and expressed grudging admiration for his negotiating skills.
Trump’s comments came after Ford announced he would pause Ontario’s 25 per cent surcharge on electricity sold stateside in retaliation for the U.S. tariffs.
“I respect that,” the president said of the premier’s move.
Ford agreed to temporarily suspend the levy on electricity that Ontario supplies to about 1.5 million customers in New York, Michigan and Minnesota.
The concession comes after U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called the premier to invite him and federal Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc for a meeting in Washington on Thursday.
In a statement on social media, Lutnick’s office said he and Ford had “a productive conversation about the economic relationship between the United States and Canada.”
“Secretary Lutnick agreed to officially meet with Premier Ford in Washington on Thursday … alongside the United States Trade Representative to discuss a renewed USMCA ahead of the April 2 reciprocal tariff deadline,” the statement continued.
“In response, Ontario agreed to suspend its 25 per cent surcharge on exports of electricity to Michigan, New York and Minnesota.”
Outside his office, the premier expressed satisfaction at the “olive branch” from Lutnick.
“I wouldn’t call it a win whatsoever, because we still have (it) in our tool kit that we can use at any given time,” the premier said of “tariff response charge” he imposed Monday.
As part of Ford’s hardline negotiating, he has been making frequent appearances on U.S. television — conducted in his office at Queen’s Park with a backdrop reading “Canada is not for sale.”
“What I’m doing the American media for is to inform the American people,” he told reporters Tuesday.
“You know, I saw a poll that came out the other day (that said) 67 per cent of Americans disagree with President Trump attacking Canada,” said Ford.
“So the more all of us — all premiers, all CEOs of businesses — go out there and inform the American people (that) this isn’t just going to hurt Canada … it’s going to hurt the U.S., it’s going to hurt badly” the more that message gets out, he said.
“We’re already seeing inflation go up in the U.S. and that’s not going to be good, I’ll tell you.”
Ford has been one of the leading Canadian voices in the charge against Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods, and his countermeasures attracted a lot of attention south of the border.
Twelve hours after Ford imposed the levy to be paid by utilities in New York, Michigan and Minnesota that import Ontario power, Trump took to social media to complain.
“Despite the fact that Canada is charging the USA from 250% to 390% Tariffs on many of our farm products, Ontario just announced a 25% surcharge on ‘electricity,’ of all things, and your (sic) not even allowed to do that,” the president said late Monday night.
Trump’s claim about Canadian agricultural tariffs are not accurate, and he was the president who negotiated the North American free trade deal that is currently in effect.
Earlier Tuesday, Ford’s office expressed surprise that the president would even notice a largely symbolic measure that would only collect between $300,000 to $400,000 a day for the province.
But it was a vindication for the premier’s hawkish strategy on dealing with Trump.
“They didn’t vote President Trump in on this type of mandate. He had a mandate to lower inflation, lower cost of living, create more jobs, and it’s backfired on him,” Ford told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer earlier in the day.
“Inflation is going up. Jobs will be lost. He’s taking more money out of Americans pockets. For what reason? We’re still trying to figure this out.”
Ford added that Trump’s repeated claim that the U.S. would like to annex Canada has “infuriated” those north of the 49th parallel.
“What it’s done, it’s united the whole country and the patriotism is running wild across the country the likes of which I’ve never seen before in my entire life,” he said.
“We will never become the 51st state. Canada is not for sale.”
Along with CNN, Ford did Tuesday morning interviews with CNBC and MSNBC, mindful that Trump closely monitors the cable news networks.
Ford’s aggressive stances first sparked a reaction last week from Lutnick, who called him to urge him to tone down the anti-tariff rhetoric.
Stock markets have plunged and the president has admitted his moves may trigger an economic recession.
Speaking on MSNBC, Ford praised prime minister-designate Mark Carney as a “very bright” person who understands finance.
The premier is having breakfast with the former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England on Wednesday.
In his victory speech at the Liberal leadership convention Sunday, Carney echoed Ford’s hardline stance on dealing with Trump’s tariffs, warning Canada’s countermeasures will remain in place “until the Americans show us respect.”
