Doug Ford says Ontario ready for result of U.S. election
CBC
As Americans vote for a new leader Tuesday, the Ontario government says it's focused on maintaining good relations with its largest trading partner — though that may be easier said than done, depending on who wins.
The results of the U.S. presidential election, a fraught race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, could have major impacts on Ontario trade costs.
Trump has promised a minimum tariff of 10 per cent on all imports entering the US, while experts have told CBC News that Harris would likely maintain a status quo that mostly embraces free trade and open borders.
On Monday, Premier Doug Ford said Ontario is ready to work with whichever administration takes over the White House in January.
"As Americans prepare to vote in this week's elections, it's more important than ever to preserve and build on our longstanding ties of friendship, trade and co-operation that unite Canada and the United States," Ford said in a statement Monday.
"In the lead-up to this week's elections, our government has been hard at work strengthening ties and establishing new relationships with government officials at the federal, state and local levels," he added.
In 2023, trade between Ontario and the U.S. totalled about $493 billion, according to the province's fall economic statement. The province was the top source of exports in the world for 17 states, exporting $52.9 billion in goods to neighbouring Michigan alone.
The province has signed economic agreements to increase trade with four individual states since last year — Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, Illinois — along with an agreement with the District of Columbia.
Ford has urged the federal government to "remain aligned" with U.S. trade policy, commending Ottawa for matching American tariffs on certain Chinese imports.
"Above all, we must avoid falling into a 'Buy Canada' or 'Buy America' mindset that would jeopardize our existing trading relationship and instead adopt a 'Buy Can-Am' mindset that creates new jobs and opportunities for workers and businesses on both sides of the border," Ford said in Monday's statement.
Ford has remained neutral during the current U.S. campaign. In the past, he has been supportive of Trump in the past, predicting in 2016 that Trump's persona as a political outsider would win him that election. At the time, Ford said that Trump reminded him of his brother, former Toronto mayor Rob Ford.
Opposition parties have been less diplomatic.
The Ontario Liberal Party has been critical of Ford's past support, saying Ford and Trump were "two sides of the same coin" in posts on social media Monday. MLA John Fraser told reporters Monday that he was hoping for a Harris presidency.
"We're all concerned about protectionism," he said.
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This First Person column is the experience of Mehdi M. Kashani, who lives in Toronto. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
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