He said that Ottawa must prepare for it to happen this fall.
Ford made these comments after the Prime Ministers of the two countries and Prime Minister Mark Carney met in private for the first time since Donald Trump intensified his trade war by imposing a basic customs right of 35 % in Canada last week.
The new customs law, which entered into force on Friday after the two countries did not comply with the maturity of August 1 to conclude a new trade agreement, only applies to goods not covered by the Canada-States-Mexico free trade agreement, better known as ACEUM.
Ford explained that Trump would probably not expect the planned review of the agreement next year.
“He does not wait 2026. At any time, President Trump-even if he does not even respect the rules-can cut the grass under the foot on the Aceum tomorrow, of a single signature,” Ford told journalists in Queen’s Park, in Toronto, Wednesday afternoon, calling for rapid action to stimulate the economy. So let’s be ready. I think it will happen in November. He will attack us with two weapons, so it is better to be ready and do everything. ”
A report by the Prime Minister’s office, broadcast on Wednesday evening, said that Carney informed the prime ministers of the state of commercial negotiations with the United States at the meeting, stressing that, although Canada continues to negotiate with the United States on trade relations between the two countries, “the repercussions of customs duties remain present in the entire Canadian economy”.
He indicates that Mr. Carney and the Prime Ministers of the two countries have discussed concrete measures to support the workers and Canadian companies most affected by customs duties.
The report indicates that the group has agreed to “accelerate efforts to mobilize capital and investment, to diversify supply chains and to strengthen national production capacity”.
“They were also unanimous in encouraging Canadian companies to favor and exploit Canadian expertise, as far as possible, in order to alleviate the short -term economic impact of American customs duties, reduce dependence on vulnerable trade flows and strengthen Canada’s long -term economic resilience,” said the report.
The report indicates that Mr. Carney stressed that the federal government remains determined to obtain “the best agreement for Canadians”.
The Ontario in disagreement with the Saskatchewan
Ontario disagrees with Saskatchewan about Canada’s response to the climbing of the trade war. Doug Ford called for immediate reprisals, while Saskatchewan Prime Minister Scott Moe urges Ottawa to reduce his retaliatory customs duties.
“It may be time for Canada not to impose additional retaliatory customs duties in this sector, but rather to consider removing some of the retaliatory customs duties that are currently harmful to Canadian and Saskatchewanese companies,” said MOE during a radio interview earlier on Wednesday, adding that the country is currently largely “protected” by ACEUM.
Before his meeting with Mr. Carney, Mr. Ford said he was frustrated by the repercussions of American customs duties raised on the economy of his province and again called for retaliatory customs duties.
“You can’t have customs duties on one side and not on the other. I maintain what I say: dollar for dollar, customs droit for customs duty. They understand strength, not weakness, and we should never, ever, let ourselves be done and be weak, “Ford told journalists at a press conference in Thornhill, Ontario on Wednesday.
Mr. Ford added to having informed Mr. Carney and the Prime Ministers that if Ottawa chose not to increase customs duties in response, the threshold from which steel products become subject to customs duties should be lowered.
“If people fear a response, well, there is another solution. Reduce quotas for businesses. Upon their arrival, they will be imposed on customs duties, ”added Doug Ford after the meeting with Mark Carney.
Mr. Moe indicated that his province was trying to protect industries hard affected by customs duties, including the steel sector.
“We have anticipated a significant part-ten years, in fact-public procurement to support the steel industries of Saskatchewan,” he said.
Mr. Moe congratulated Mr. Carney for the efforts made by his government to strengthen commercial ties with other countries, including Mexico, especially since Canada remains subject to Chinese customs duties on oil and the CANOLA cake.
Asked about the reasons why his government has finally put American alcoholic beverages on the market and restored its usual supply processes, Scott Moe replied that the government was already granting priority to Saskatchewanese companies.
“We must achieve this objective more solidly with our main trading partner, the United States of America, and someone will have to take the first measures,” he said, stressing that Alberta had also changed its policies.
The office of the Prime Minister of Alberta, Danielle Smith, added that she would make no statement before the meeting.
Doug Ford has also called for major industrial projects likely to cheer up the population and use Canadian steel, in the order to build a “aircraft carrier”.
He called Ottawa to reduce taxes and said the Banque du Canada should lower its interest rate.
“We must ask the Governor of the Bank of Canada to lower these damn interest rates of 2.75,” he said. They must be reduced. Confidence must be established. “
“Let’s work together to eliminate TVH for house buyers, not only for first-time buyers,” he added. Stimulate the market and we will follow the example if the federal government does. ”
Doug Ford also said on Wednesday that he had a “good conversation” with the American secretary of trade, Howard Lunick on Tuesday, who turned out to be “positive”, and he considers that the “Prime Minister does everything in his power to conclude a fair trade agreement with the United States”.
Mark Carney, who did not make the media available on Wednesday, said at a press conference in British Columbia on Tuesday that he had not spoken to Donald Trump in recent days, but that he would speak to him “when it is relevant”.
The Prime Minister added that around 85 % of trade with the United States remain exempt from customs duties thanks to ACEUM.
Sectoral customs duties, such as 50 % on steel, aluminum and copper, remain in force.
Mark Carney also suggested that he could raise retaliatory customs duties if it helped Canada in the current trade conflict.
“We examine what we can do most effective for our industry. In some cases, it will be a question of removing customs duties, “he said on Tuesday.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand, and the Minister of Finance, François-Philippe Champagne, were in Mexico City on Wednesday, as part of a two-day mission aimed at meeting Mexican officials and companies concerning trade.
The conservative opposition finances Mark Carney’s response to the climbing of the trade war.
“He led his whole campaign while standing,” said an email for funding the conservatives on Wednesday. But his elbows dropped faster than the temperatures of a Canadian winter while Trump increased customs duties. ”
– With information from Lisa Johnson in Edmonton, Alberta, and Allison Jones in Thornhill, Ontario.