Ford, feds say they had 'productive' meeting with top Trump trade official in Washington

Ontario Premier Doug Ford and federal officials left an hours-long meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick saying they feel more positive about the Canada-U.S. trading relationship after weeks of bad blood and heated rhetoric.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Ford said he feels like "the temperature is being lowered, the temperature's coming down" after the bilateral talks.

"This, I can honestly say, was the best meeting I've ever had coming down here. We want the best outcome for both countries. We're like a family — sometimes there's tension between families but that was an extremely productive meeting. I'm feeling positive," he said.

Ford said there will be another meeting next week between Canadian and American trade officials but offered no details on what they are planning to discuss — but the promise of another meeting could be read as something of a good sign.

"We're having very productive conversations and they're turning out very, very well," Ford said.

Asked if he's prepared to put his 25 per cent tax on U.S.-bound electricity back on, Ford didn't answer as he hopped into a waiting black SUV.

Canada and the U.S. are in the throes of a trade war after U.S. President Donald Trump slapped tariffs on all Canadian goods — and later partially dialled back — to supposedly pressure the country to do more at the border on drugs and migrants.

This week, Trump levied a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum imports.

To hit back at what the federal government has called "unjustified" and "unjustifiable" tariffs on a long-time trade partner, Canada has levied retaliatory tariffs on roughly $60 billion worth of American goods in response.

While officials sounded a positive tone, Trump himself continued with his 51st state taunts and outlandish claims about Canada-U.S. trade.

Asked Thursday if he's going to lift any tariffs on Canada, Trump told reporters: "We're not going to bend."

He vowed to destroy the Canadian aluminum and steel sectors and the auto industry.

"We've been ripped off as a country for many, many years," he said, falsely repeating his usual claim that the U.S. is somehow "subsidizing" Canada to the tune of $200 billion a year.

The U.S. trade deficit with Canada was $63 billion US last year, much of it driven by American demand for cheaper Canadian oil. If energy is stripped out, the U.S. actually has a trade surplus with Canada, data shows.