Premier cites Reagan’s free-trade record on Trump’s tariffs
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday that Canada should be ready to cut off electricity exports and critical mineral shipments to the United States if the Canada-U.S. trade fight intensifies.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Ford said Trump has underestimated Canadians’ willingness to endure economic pain rather than give in to U.S. pressure.
“He underestimates Canada. We’re all in,” Ford said. “Up here, we’re at a fever pitch, everyone’s in for an economic war. They know they’re going to have to sacrifice.”
Ford said Trump had “declared war, economic war against his closest friend and ally.”
Turning to Reagan’s legacy on trade, Ford noted that Trump keeps a portrait of the former president near his desk. Reagan was a strong advocate of free trade and repeatedly warned that protectionist tariffs could trigger retaliation and hurt American consumers and workers.
The Ontario premier said Reagan would be “throwing up” over Trump’s current trade policies. He had previously featured Reagan’s opposition to tariffs in a television advertising campaign aimed at American viewers.