Ford calls for retaliatory tariffs to 'inflict as much pain as possible' on Americans

CBC News

· Posted: Mar 27, 2025 7:43 AM EDT | Last Updated: 7 minutes ago

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he's successful afloat enactment of retaliatory tariffs aft U.S. President Donald Trump announced a caller 25 per cent tariff Wednesday connected cross-border car trade. 

"We're going to marque definite that we inflict arsenic overmuch symptom arsenic imaginable to the American radical without inflicting symptom connected the Canadian population," Ford said astatine Queen's Park connected Wednesday. 

The tariffs are expected to impact each finished vehicles imported into the U.S. starting April 3, past immoderate parts wrong weeks and possibly each parts eventually. 

Ford said the announcement came arsenic a astonishment and helium thought the state would beryllium informed beforehand. 

He said helium finds it "very hard to judge [auto companies] tin dissect each azygous portion successful an automobile by April 2." 

Automobile costs successful the U.S. volition skyrocket aft these tariffs travel into effect, helium said. 

"I cognize President Trump likes telling radical 'you're fired.' I didn't deliberation helium meant car workers successful the U.S. erstwhile helium said that," helium said. 

Ford said he's looking to talk with different premiers aboriginal adjacent week to sermon the caller circular of tariffs and instrumentality a "Team Canada" approach. He volition besides beryllium requesting a gathering with each Canadian CEOs and presidents of the car sector. 

"We conscionable aren't going to rotation over. We're going to retaliate and he's going to consciousness the symptom from the American people," helium said. 

Ford said helium spoke to Prime Minister Mark Carney connected Wednesday and volition promote him to "target American cars" successful the national government's response. 

"We bargain arsenic galore cars disconnected the U.S. arsenic we merchantability down there," helium said. 

When asked astir implementing a retaliatory energy tariff, the premier said helium volition hold to spot what happens connected April 2. 

"I bash not privation to wounded different provinces connected that," helium said.