Ontario Premier Doug Ford has publicly criticized President Trump’s ongoing trade war, warning that the administration's latest tariffs are driving up costs for American consumers. In an interview for the program The Takeout on July 24, 2026, at 4:10 PM EDT, Ford argued that "President Trump decided to go after his close ally and friend, his No. 1 customer in the entire world. And yes, the U.S. is our No. 1 customer. It's unnecessary. We have to make sure that there's certainty that will create jobs and opportunities and production and lower cost of goods. Well, that was the total opposite."
The criticism follows an announcement earlier this week by Mr. Trump regarding new 50% tariffs set to begin in late August. These levies will impact approximately $20 billion worth of Canadian products, including milk, honey, alcohol, down feathers, and hockey equipment. The Trump administration stated that these measures are a response to Canada's previous retaliatory actions, which included tariffs on auto imports and decisions by provinces like Ontario to remove American liquor from store shelves.
Ford emphasized that he has yet to receive a finalized list of the specific Canadian goods that will be subject to the upcoming tariffs. He stressed that protectionist policies are ineffective, noting that the economic fallout from such trade disputes ultimately harms the populations of both Canada and the United States. According to Ford, the two nations share a robust economic relationship, with roughly $52 billion in two-way trade, and he warned that the current path threatens to derail job creation and opportunity on both sides of the border.
Tensions have spilled over into diplomatic relations as well. In response to the trade measures, Canada recently rescinded invitations for U.S. officials to attend the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge. The structure, which connects Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, is funded by Canada. Once construction debts are settled, the U.S. is slated to receive half of the toll revenues for the first 15 years. Despite the ongoing friction, Ford maintained that the bridge remains a vital project for creating tens of thousands of jobs for both countries.
When asked about the potential for de-escalating the situation, Ford remained firm in his stance that Canada must push back. "When someone comes up and punches you in the face, not once, not twice, 10 times, you have to stand up to that person," Ford said. "Someone in the schoolyard wants to take your lunch money, you're going to fight back. And I've encouraged the prime minister to fight back."
