'We need certainty,' Ford says 1-month delay on auto tariffs still concerning
CBC
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the U.S. announcing a one-month pause on tariffs for the auto industry is no breath of fresh air here at home.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the month-long exemption Wednesday, saying the change came after the leaders of America's Big 3 carmakers, Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, called Trump and asked for tariff relief.
She said reciprocal tariffs from the U.S. are still planned to go into effect on April 2.
"That always concerns me when someone says, yeah, give us 30 days as we ramp up to start moving south of the border," Ford told reporters Wednesday as he left a cabinet meeting.
"That's unacceptable. We need certainty."
The tariffs are expected to have a devastating impact on Ontario's auto manufacturing industry, which employs well over 100,00 people.
Those in the sector said jobs could be at risk because of how interconnected they are with the U.S., with auto giants previously saying work at Ontario plants could grind to a halt within five to eight days.
The tariffs are also expected to have a devastating impact on the province's steel industry, while most Ontarians will feel them at the checkout counter as they're poised to drive up inflation.
You can read more about tariffs, how they work and what they could mean for Canada here.
Premier Doug Ford also told reporters he's been in talks with American politicians and Justin Trudeau as he insists Canada won't compromise on its response to the trade war.
"We will not budge. Zero tariffs and that's it," Ford said.
Reporters asked him about his call with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick Tuesday and whether the conversation was "tense," with Ford refusing to "tone it down" when Lutnick asked him to.
"Well, that's pretty accurate," Ford said – a different sentiment than how he described the call on ABC news earlier Wednesday.
"We wanna have a fair trade agreement and that's what my message to him was. And he understands. He's actually, he's a good man." he told the American network.
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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the provincial government will avoid purchasing U.S. goods and services and launch an advertising campaign to help shoppers buy Canadian products while U.S tariffs persist.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrapped up a call with his U.S. counterpart midday Wednesday, a senior government official told CBC News.
The union that represents roughly 30,000 Toronto city workers has set a strike deadline of 12:01 a.m. Monday.
Charlottetown MP Sean Casey says employment insurance relief will be introduced within weeks to help those who lose their jobs due to tariffs, if those tariffs aren't lifted.
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The owner of a produce shop in Montreal's Outremont borough isn't looking forward to the escalating trade war between the United States and Canada.