Doug Ford calls Mexico 'backdoor' for Chinese cars, says Canada should sign bilateral trade deal with U.S.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he wants to see a bilateral trade deal between Canada and the U.S. if Mexico doesn’t crack down on “unfair” Chinese auto imports into North America.
“Free trade needs to be fair,” Ford said in a statement. “Since signing on to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, Mexico has allowed itself to become a backdoor for Chinese cars, auto parts and other products into Canadian and American markets, putting Canadian and American workers’ livelihoods at risk while undermining our communities and doing enormous harm to our shared economic success.”
Ford made the comments days after U.S. voters handed a decisive win to Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election. Trump has vowed to impose tariffs on trading partners and has said he would like to renegotiate the USMCA deal that was signed with Canada and Mexico to replace NAFTA in his first term.
“If Mexico won’t fight transshipment by, at the very least, matching Canadian and American tariffs on Chinese imports, they shouldn’t have a seat at the table or enjoy access to the largest economy in the world,” Ford said. “Instead, we must prioritize the closest economic partnership on earth by directly negotiating a bilateral U.S.-Canada free trade agreement that puts U.S. and Canadian workers first.”
Speaking at an unrelated news conference Tuesday, Ford said Ontario has “1,000 per cent” more stake in the trade arrangement than any other jurisdiction and that the province would be the third-largest trading partner for the U.S. if it were a standalone country.
“You look at Mexico, they're importing cheap products – undercutting our hard-working men and women not only here, but in the U.S. – from China,” Ford said. “They're slapping a ‘Made in Mexico’ sticker on and shipping it up and taking our hard-working men and women’s jobs away from them. Unacceptable.”
He also said he’s discussed the issue with the other premiers.
Asked about Ford’s comments at a news conference, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said “just about all” of Canada’s partner democracies are concerned about “Chinese overcapacity around unfair trade practices that the Chinese economy is inflicting on the world” and are responding in different ways.
“We're going to continue to work with partners like the United States and hopefully Mexico as well, to make sure that we are united in our desire to protect good jobs that are more responsible around the environment than they are in China, more responsible around labour practices and supporting families in meaningful ways,” Trudeau said.
“There's lots of work to be doing, and that's, I know, a big topic conversation that we're going to have with the new American administration in the coming months.”
The prime minister did not say whether he thought a bilateral trade deal with the U.S. would be a good solution.
In a statement to CP24.com, the head of the biggest auto-sector union in Canada said Ford “raises an area of shared concern” for all North American auto workers and that auto workers here want to see Canada “aggressively” defending their jobs.
“The potential flood of Chinese vehicles into North America poses an immediate threat to jobs, auto plants, and the EV supply chain,” Unifor President Lana Payne said. “Canada and the U.S. are aligned, and have acted, but Mexico has held back.”
She said a “continent-wide strategy” is needed to address the threats facing the sector, and to protect workers and investments in the industry.
“With Mexico as a backdoor to Chinese imports, and a reckless tariff plan proposed by President-elect Trump, Canada must be aggressively defending jobs and our economy,” Payne said.
The Mexican embassy and Global Affairs Canada did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Ford’s remarks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Why would I box myself in?': Singh on why he won't commit to helping bring Trudeau's gov't down, yet
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's looming tariff threat is part of the reason why he's not committing to voting non-confidence in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government.
Donald Trump says Canada becoming 51st U.S. state is 'a great idea.' Jean Charest calls the comment a 'wake-up call'
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is taking aim at Canada once more, saying it would be 'a great idea' to make it America's ‘51st state.'
'It's a giant mess': Confusion remains about the GST/HST holiday
The organization representing small and medium size businesses in Canada says the start to the GST and HST holiday has been 'a giant mess.'
B.C. man drops camera into ocean, accidentally captures 'breathtaking' whale video
Before it turned into an extraordinary day, Peter Mieras says it began being quite ordinary.
'You're either with Beijing or you're with Washington': Ford says to Mexico in CNN interview
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has a message for Mexico as the threat of tariffs by incoming president Donald Trump hangs over both sides of the U.S. border.
Oldest stone tablet inscribed with Bible's Ten Commandments sells for US$5 million
The oldest known tablet inscribed with the Ten Commandments from the Old Testament sold on Wednesday for US$5.04 million, more than double its high estimate.
What's the best treatment for ADHD? Large new study offers clues
Stimulant medications and certain therapies are more effective in treating ADHD symptoms than placebos, a new study on more than 14,000 adults has found.
NEW Here's how the cost of living challenges are shaking up Canadian seniors' retirement plans
With the high cost of living increasingly a concern, some seniors are making sacrifices to help their adult children and grandchildren make ends meet. Here are some of their stories.
There are 88 new Order of Canada appointees. Here's a look at some of the most notable names
Ryan Reynolds, Scott Oake and Maureen Ann Jennings are among the 88 new recipients of the Order of Canada.