Ford says ‘temperature has been lowered’ after meeting with U.S. secretary of commerce

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he had an “extremely productive meeting” with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on Thursday.

But there was no change to Trump’s punishing tariffs that have thrown markets on both sides of the border into disarray and are forcing layoffs in some of Canada’s critical industries like steel production.

Ford emerged from the meeting saying, “We feel that the temperature has been lowered” in respect to an ugly, ongoing trade war.

“We shared a tremendous amount of news back and forth. I’m feeling very positive,” Ford said. “This, I can honestly say, was the best meeting I’ve ever had coming down here.”

Ford was in Washington with federal Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne to meet with Lutnick, U.S. Trade Ambassador Jamieson Greer, and other officials from Commerce.

Ford did not provide any further details of the meeting except that another one is planned for next week.

“We want the best outcome for both countries,” said Ford. “We’re like a family. Sometimes there’s dissention between families, but that was an extremely productive meeting.”

Ford’s office tells CityNews that the premier will not be at next week’s meeting, instead, it will be provincial bureaucrats representing Ontario. Thursday’s meeting helped to set priorities and objectives for further discussions.

On Tuesday, Trump threatened to double steel and aluminum duties on Canada but backed down after Ford agreed to halt a surcharge on electricity that Ontario sells to three U.S. states.

But still, on Wednesday, an additional 25 per cent import tariff was put on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S., including from Canada.

Canada responded with 25 per cent tariffs on $29.8 billion worth of American goods, which took effect just after midnight Thursday.

Those duties focus on American steel and aluminum products but also include other items like smartphones, video game consoles and golf clubs.

LeBlanc and Champagne, who spoke separately from Ford at a news conference from the Canadian Embassy, also would provide few details of what was discussed.

“This was a constructive discussion,” said Champagne. “We have our disagreements, but as long as you have dialogue you are making progress.”

“We leave Washington I think better equipped in making sure we can defend Canadian interests.”

The ministers were not clear whether much will change in the relationship between the two countries after Mark Carney replaces Justin Trudeau as prime minister Friday.

Champagne said he expects Carney and Trump to have a conversation in the coming days.

A news release from the U.S. Department of Commerce said the Canadian and American officials discussed the Trump administration’s “goal of fair trade with Canada and the province of Ontario, while working to secure America’s border and eliminate fentanyl.”

“Both countries recognized the strength and history of their relationship,” it said. 

Files from The Canadian Press were used in this report