Doug Ford fires back as Trump hikes auto tariffs on Canada
President Donald Trump threatened to raise US tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, auto parts and steel from 25% to 50% starting 1 January 2027, escalating a trade war after Prime Minister Mark Carney vowed dollar-for-dollar retaliation. Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded bluntly, telling Trump to "kiss my ass" and suggesting Canada charge more for energy exports to the US. The latest exchange followed collapsed trade talks and new 50% levies on roughly $20 billion of Canadian imports that took effect Saturday.
The US-Canada dispute has moved from negotiating-table brinkmanship to open economic warfare in days. For Ontario's auto belt and the workers whose livelihoods depend on cross-border supply chains, the stakes are immediate and personal.
Key Takeaways
- Trump plans to hike auto tariffs from 25% to 50% on 1 January 2027 after Carney pledged reciprocal duties.
- 50% tariffs on about $20bn of Canadian goods, from hockey sticks to furniture, took effect Saturday.
- Ontario Premier Doug Ford told Trump to "kiss my ass" and floated higher charges on US-bound energy.
- Canada will impose matching retaliatory tariffs on US goods starting 8 September.
- Experts warn escalating tensions could unravel the USMCA and push Canada toward recession.
What triggered Trump's latest auto tariff threat?
US-Canada trade talks collapsed late Friday, moments before a deadline that added 50% levies on nearly $20bn (C$28bn) of Canadian imports, according to the BBC. Canadian officials said Washington introduced last-minute demands, including a clause limiting which countries Canada could sign trade deals with. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer countered that Canada wanted more at the eleventh hour.
On Monday, Trump accused Canada of "ripping America off" and announced the auto tariff hike. Carney called the threat unsurprising and said Trump appeared intent on damaging Canada's auto industry. He pledged C$11bn to build icebreakers and diversify trade away from US dependence.
What did Doug Ford say about Trump's tariffs?
Doug Ford, whose Ontario province hosts Canada's auto manufacturing heartland, emerged as one of the loudest voices against Trump's levies. Ford told the US president to "kiss my ass" and suggested Canada should charge the US extra for oil, gas, electricity and critical minerals, the BBC reported.
Ford said he would speak with Carney about ways to "fight back." Trump responded on Truth Social, calling Ford's rhetoric "bluster" and warning that Canada would face "far WORSE" consequences unless officials "fall in line." Canada supplies roughly 60% of US crude oil imports and nearly all US natural gas exports.
For workers facing job uncertainty, sustained economic shocks can translate into chronic stress — a factor researchers increasingly link to long-term health outcomes covered in our Longevity & Biohacking section.
Which Canadian goods are already facing 50% US tariffs?
The weekend tariffs hit a broad swath of products under the Tariff Act of 1930, according to The Independent. Affected goods include hockey sticks, honey, wine, cement, plywood, furniture components, perfumes, clothing, gold jewelry, dog leashes and cameras.
Some products previously shielded under the USMCA are now exposed. American importers bear the initial cost and may pass hikes to consumers. A January study found nearly all Trump tariffs were ultimately paid by US buyers, and 60% of Americans oppose the increases, per Pew Research.
What happens next in the US-Canada trade fight?
Canada plans dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs on US goods beginning 8 September. Carney said Ottawa is ready to resume talks when Washington arrives with "the right attitude." Both sides say negotiations are suspended with no restart date.
The dispute also threatens the USMCA, the North American trade pact Trump signed in his first term. Canada and Mexico want a 16-year extension; the US refuses renewal in current form. Oxford Economics warned Monday that USMCA collapse could plunge Canada into recession and permanently lower growth — a macro shock with ripple effects far beyond the factory floor.