'We are a threat to the U.S.': Ford suggests reason for Trump's proposed tariffs

Premier Doug Ford is touting the strength of Ontario’s manufacturing sector, suggesting that U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s promised tariffs may have something to do with him seeing the province as a “threat.”

Ford made the comment during Question Period at Queen’s Park on Tuesday in response to a remark made by NDP Leader Marit Stiles questioning his government’s record.

"We are the envy of North America. We are the envy of the world," the premier said. "You wonder why the president-elect Trump wants to put tariffs? Because we're a threat to the U.S. We're a manufacturing powerhouse – we created more manufacturing jobs last year than all 50 U.S. states combined. You just have to ask the great governors that I speak to on a weekly basis. The senators and congressmen and women… they see the growth here, and we're their number one competition."

Trump has promised to slap a 25 per cent tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico on his first day in office.

Since Trump first announced the plan last month, Ford has been vocal about his disapproval of the tariffs, saying the president-elect should focus his attentions on Mexico instead, and that the idea was "like a family member stabbing you right in the heart."

The Ford government also recently launched an American ad campaign touting Ontario as an "ally to the North."

On Tuesday, Ford also said that the country's premiers are meeting virtually Wednesday with the prime minister to discuss the threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports.

The meeting comes two weeks after the premiers first spoke with Justin Trudeau about their concerns.

Ford says the federal government promised to present a plan to the premiers for their approach to negotiations with Trump and his officials.

He says he hopes the plan will include strengthening border security, an issue Trump highlighted in his initial tariff threat, and meeting a NATO commitment of spending two per cent of GDP on defence.

Ontario's total trade with the U.S. in 2023 was valued at around $500 billion, according to the provincial government.

Ian Lee, an associate professor at the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University, told CP24.com last month that if Trump’s promised tariffs are introduced it will have a “focused” and “disproportionate” impact on Ontario.

“Ontario is going to take a huge, huge hit,” he warned.

With files from The Canadian Press