President Trump’s tariffs are hurting Americans

Wolf Blitzer: While Canadian goods face 35%. Joining us now is the premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, premier Ford. Thanks so much for joining us. As you know, president Trump negotiated the agreement with Canada and Mexico during his first term to replace nafta, the North American Free Trade Agreement, you say, and now he could put suddenly all of a sudden open up the U-S-M-C-A.

What makes you think that?

Doug Ford: Well, y you know, well, f first of all, I start off every interview with saying how much we love Americans, how much we love the us and as I’ve said on this show many times that a tariff on Canada is a tax on the American people. And as you’ve seen, uh, the study from Yale, it’s going to cost Americans $2,400, uh, manufacturing employment in the us.

Uh, there’s over 37,000 people since April. Uh, I’ve lost their jobs. It’s the lowest rate in five years and it’s just not working. Uh, let’s, let’s create the, uh, Amcan fortress. Two strongest countries in the world. Uh, again, this is hurting the American people as the rest of the countries, including Canada, is diversifying our trade.

We’re we’re seeing, uh, 25% increase in trade with European Union, uh, the UK’s up by 30%. So as we’re diversifying and onshoring, uh, products, the American people are losing their jobs.

Wolf Blitzer: What would the, uh, impact be for Canada and for the US if, if President Trump pulled out of that agreement?

Doug Ford: Well, it would be unfortunate.

We, we, uh, directly employ just Ontario alone, 9 million Americans and across the entire country of Canada, it’s probably closer to 20 million. Americans rely on Canada for jobs and vice versa. We, we rely on, uh, uh, jobs, uh, with trade with the us, but it is just hurting both countries. And as, as we’re diversifying and the rest of the world’s diversifying, uh, onshoring products that are typically made in the US no matter if it’s aluminum cans or tins or, uh, steel beams, uh, we’re onshoring everything.

Uh, we’re very, very concerned with the actions of the Trump administration and you know, president Trump. Secretary Lunik, they’re, they’re smart guys. Like they understand numbers. And when you see 37,000 Americans have lost their jobs that can’t pay the rent, or can’t pay a mortgage, put food on their table, and this is just gonna grow even more.

6.2 billion in tariff related costs to the auto sector. And that’s gonna increase. So the auto workers are gonna be losing their jobs.

Wolf Blitzer: So how is Canada, uh, premier Ford preparing for that possibility now? Have you, uh, warned your Prime Minister? Mark Kearney that Canada needs to take action.

Doug Ford: Absolutely, and we’re doing it as we speak right now.

We’re onshoring, uh, onshoring manufacturing jobs that typically are American jobs. Uh, we, we have a market here that we can sustain it, and we’re lowering taxes. We’re making sure we’re competitive. For companies to come and invest in, in Canada, Ontario alone last year attracted over $40 billion of investment, creating more jobs, more opportunities.

I would much rather, you know, work with our greatest, uh, ally and closest friend and increase jobs in both countries, and we can do that. We’d be the two strongest nations in the world economically. Uh, that’s that, that’s our goal. Unfortunately, president Trump doesn’t want to go down that avenue. He wants to hurt the American people, and that’s exactly what he’s doing.

Wolf Blitzer: Do you know when, uh, prime Minister Kearney of, of Canada is next scheduled to speak with President Trump?

Doug Ford: I’d imagine over the next few days, uh, Wolf, but we’re gonna continue the dialogue and communication to the best of our ability.

Wolf Blitzer: You know, it’s, it’s strange to me. Uh, Trump has repeatedly said over these past several months, that he wants Canada, our neighbor in the north to become a 51st state of the United States.

He hasn’t said that though in a while. Do you still worry about, uh, his rhetoric on that front?

Doug Ford: No, I’m, I’m not worried about that because that’s never gonna happen. We’ll be your closest ally and closest friend for forever as we have been for 200 years, and we will outlast the Trump administration and we’ll continue working with our great American partners.

Wolf Blitzer: What’s the general impression of Trump in Canada?

Doug Ford: He’s probably the most disliked politician in the world in Canada. ’cause he’s attacked his closest, uh, family member. And that’s the way we look upon it. And when I talk to the governors and senators and Congress, uh, people, uh, even Republicans, totally disagree, but they’re too scared to come out and say anything.

Uh, because the president will go after him outside of a few senators and I wanna. Thank them for, for coming out and stand standing with not just American people, but their closest friends and, and, uh, allies, which is Canada. And again, we, we love the Americans. It’s unfortunate President Trump decided to go down this road

Wolf Blitzer: and just to be, uh, totally transparent as someone who grew up on the US Canada border in beautiful buffalo, New York.

I love Canada as well. I love the Canadians, and always have, uh, the Ontario Premier Doug Ford as usual. Thanks so much for joining us. Thank you.

Doug Ford: Thank you so much, Wolf.

Wolf Blitzer: Thank you Pamela. All right. Wolf coming up Hair.

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