The Premier of Ontario Doug Ford stated that Ronald Reagan “would be vomiting” over the trade policy of President Donald Trump, threatening to halt electricity exports and critical minerals to the USA amid escalating trade disputes.
On Monday, Ford noted that Trump underestimated Canadians’ willingness to endure economic hardships rather than succumb to pressure from the USA. “He underestimates Canada. We are all involved,” said Ford, adding: “We are in a feverish state here, all ready for economic war. They know they will have to make sacrifices.” Ford stated that Trump “has declared war, an economic war against his closest friend and ally,” then turned attention to Reagan and his well-known disdain for tariffs.
Ford emphasized that Trump keeps a portrait of Reagan near his desk and stated: “He would be vomiting on it from the picture if he knew what was happening, turning in his grave right now.” “Maybe he should take that picture off the wall and move it somewhere else,” continued Ford. “Because right now Ronald Reagan would be outraged by the actions of President Trump.”
The Premier’s statements came after Prime Minister Mark Carney‘s decision to withdraw from trade negotiations with the Trump administration late Friday, citing excessive demands from Washington in exchange for lifting tariffs. The USA imposed 50 percent tariffs on Canadian goods worth about 20 billion dollars on Saturday, prompting Carney to announce mirror tariffs in response, which will take effect from September 8. Trump further escalated the conflict on Monday by threatening to impose a 50 percent tariff on Canadian cars, auto parts, and steel starting next year. “Canada has been ripping off the United States of America for years,” Trump wrote on social media Monday morning, criticizing what he called Canada‘s “laughably high tariffs” on American farmers, and added: “Unacceptable, and NO MORE!”
Threats regarding critical minerals and electricity
Ford warned that “everything is on the table,” if the dispute worsens, including halting electricity exports and supplies of critical minerals from Ontario. He also urged Canada to consider using oil and potash as leverage. “I will cut them off,” said Ford about the critical minerals. “You won’t get a single grain of sand from Ontario.”
Critical minerals are increasingly important for the national defense and industrial production of the USA. The Pentagon is working to secure reliable supplies of raw materials used in military aviation, missiles, ammunition, and advanced electronics as Washington seeks to reduce its dependence on China, which controls the mining and processing of several key strategic minerals. Ford specifically highlighted high-quality nickel exported to the United States and uranium processed in Ontario. “What would they do without the high-quality nickel we send to the USA?” asked Ford.
Ford argued that Canada should consider increasingly tough measures in response if Trump continues to attack Canadian industrial sectors, including oil and potash, while Ontario could raise electricity prices or halt its supply across the border. “We supply electricity to 1.5 million homes and businesses,” said Ford. “Everything is on the table. I will do everything possible.” If Trump insists on trying to destroy the Canadian industry, Ford added: “he better have a stock of batteries.” Ford has already used electricity in past disputes. In the early stages of the trade dispute, Ontario imposed a 25 percent surcharge on electricity sent to Michigan, Minnesota, and New York. Trump responded by threatening to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum before both sides backed down.
Automotive industry and rejection of the deal
Ford accused Trump of seeking not just to improve the trade deal but intending to destroy Canada’s industrial potential and move production to the USA. Ford said that Trump wants to turn Canada into a vassal state. “He wants to exhaust every sector and move them to the USA,” Ford stated.
The automotive industry plays a crucial role in Ontario, being the backbone of Canada’s vehicle manufacturing base. Factories and supply chains throughout Ontario are deeply integrated with enterprises in Michigan and other USA states, with components regularly crossing the border multiple times during assembly. Major automakers, including Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, have significant assembly plants in Ontario, providing tens of thousands of jobs in the broader supply network. Trump‘s warning of a 50 percent tariff on Canadian cars and components puts this sector directly at the center of the growing conflict. The US Trade Representative Jameson Greer stated on Monday that “the only reason Canada has any automotive manufacturing at all” was due to the Automotive Pact of the 1960s, under which Canada used access to its domestic market to develop automotive manufacturing in the country. “If he thinks the Canadian people will just submit and continue buying American-made cars, it won’t happen,” said Ford.
Ford also revealed that he resisted a previous draft agreement that Carney considered before Canada withdrew from the negotiations. “I did not support the deal,” said Ford. He stated that he did not want to allow the return of American alcohol to the shelves of Ontario stores as part of the settlement and was prepared to publicly oppose the proposed agreement. “I was not going to bring alcohol back to the shelves,” said Ford. “I was ready to go out and call a press conference… and say that I would not submit.” Ford noted that, to his understanding, Washington in the later stages of the negotiations sought provisions that would limit Canada‘s freedom to enter into trade agreements with other countries without the consent of the USA. Carney called this demand unacceptable and an infringement on Canadian sovereignty. “Who does he think he is?” said Ford about Trump. “You must be joking.”
Ford’s comments about Reagan reignited a previous confrontation with Trump. Last year, Ontario funded
