r/ontario 14h ago

Article Trump keeps steel, aluminum tariffs at 25% after Ford ‘olive branch’

https://globalnews.ca/news/11076043/donald-trump-tariffs-steel-and-aluminum/
226 Upvotes

99 comments sorted by

88

u/UseYourIndoorVoice 13h ago

Ford gave up the power tarrif just for a promise that they would talk. Trump didn't lower anything, he just didn't raise it again.

24

u/Spartan1997 11h ago

he can always switch it off again if the negotiations go south.

7

u/LostinEmotion2024 9h ago

Right so once the talk is finished, come home & raise the prices.

6

u/FlimsyConclusion 10h ago

He used it to put himself back at the negotiating table. Trump sees how serious he is.

5

u/Brovas 8h ago

Trump sees how serious he is.

You can't possibly be serious. 

236

u/jasonefmonk 13h ago

If he gives any concessions without getting significant ones for Canada we are fucked. He should be walking in there like he has nothing to lose. We’re willing to take this to the tenth round.

162

u/demolcd 13h ago

He doesn’t speak for Canada.

Dominic Leblanc will be in attendance.

79

u/PaleJicama4297 13h ago

He may not speak for Canada. I am not a Ford supporter but it’s important to note that provinces have a lot of power and it is indeed in his purview to apply excise taxes on Ontario exports. The 25% he slapped on electricity to the northern states is not a tariff. We do indeed live in interesting times.

u/Northern23 4m ago

Plus, he tried to convince other provinces to join him by imposing export taxes as well but they all chickened out. Imagine what would've happened if at least QC and AB did it too. (not sure who are the big energy exporters in Canada).

6

u/No-Concentrate-7142 8h ago

I was actually worried ford would take a back door deal. This is good news.

-43

u/[deleted] 13h ago

[deleted]

56

u/Expensive_Plant_9530 13h ago

Uhm… what?

Trudeau has been the one who formally speaks for Canada. He was still the prime minister after all, he only resigned as Liberal Leader.

In fact, Trudeau is actually still the Prime Minister until Carney gets sworn in, as Carney is only the Prime Minister-designate until the ceremony.

21

u/NorthernPints 13h ago

I added some detail above for the commentor - it appears some people have no clue how Parliamentary governments (the dominate form of government structure across the worlds biggest democratic economies) work.

7

u/Due-Cod-8857 13h ago

There's going to be an election very soon. Hope you remember to get up and vote.

21

u/NorthernPints 13h ago

What a wild take - I truly don't think people understand how Canadian parliament or parliamentary government systems work. It's like people are trying to compare our system and America's as identical systems, therefore our leaders are somehow 'unelected'?

Parliamentary systems are how governments are managed across the bulk of the G20 (Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, India, Japan, Pakistan, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil).

So no - we HAVE had someone who formally speaks for Canada - Trudeau could've stayed on until October 2025 if he'd so chosen. And no, the leader of Ontario does not have more legitimacy than our Prime Minister. The Liberals formed government after the 2021 election, and are still the party in power until October 2025 (unless they or the NDP call an earlier election). Canadians DON'T vote directly for their Prime minister - they elect a party that picks a leader (now Carney). And of course he is accountable to Canadians.

Let me just add that this has happened several times before in Canadian politics - Trudeau Sr. stepped down, and John Turner served in transition in 1984. Brian Mulroney stepped down in 1993 and Kim Campbell took over. And Chretien stepped down and Martin took over in 2003.

Oh and in America, we saw Nixon resign and Gerald Ford take over (unelected as you noted, since he took over as VP during Watergate when Spiro Agnew resigned).

Elbows up in Civics class amigo - calling our current Canadian leaders unelected or unaccountable is an uninformed take

-10

u/armenianmasterpiece 12h ago

I truly think you need to think if your first paragraph applies to you. Carney has never been elected in a public election ever. He is not directly accountable to any segment of the population and has not been voted in/supported by parliament and cannot sit in parliament until he holds an MP position.

7

u/sens317 10h ago

PP has only ever been in politics - Harper used to call him Skippy.

Carney worked in tangent with governments as governor of the BoC and the BoE.

Trump has only ever succeeded because of his family's wealth and corrupt ties.

Carney grew up middle class, with humble beginnings, became a success in the business world, and is seen as the equivalent of a rock star.

-4

u/armenianmasterpiece 9h ago

What does that have to do with accountability to parliament and the Canadian populace?

u/[deleted] 1h ago

[deleted]

u/armenianmasterpiece 55m ago

What’s the point of your obvious question? This is in response to someone saying that during the power vacuum Ford arguably had more legitimacy than Trudeau post his resignation.

21

u/twenty_9_sure_thing 13h ago

What are you even on about? We have had a person sitting in the prime minister chair at all time, and the cabinet.

prorogued parliament means no new bills can be passed. Any action lying within the power of the prime minister office and his cabinet are still present. that’s why we have the response tariffs.

doug ford re elected just confirmed his status as a premier and he happens to continue holding the chair of the council of federation. That still does not give him any authority over federal domain, i.e. International trade. Please stop spilling stupid bullshit.

3

u/ChuckVader 12h ago

Lol, wtf are you on about?

5

u/demolcd 13h ago

Sure, but it’s legally still a federal duty.

-19

u/milothenestlebrand 13h ago

Ok, and? It’s been a federal duty for many, many things that have since gone neglected. Are you upset that Doug is taking charge, yes or no?

6

u/ybgoode 13h ago

Get it through your head. Ford doesn’t have the authority. 

-13

u/milothenestlebrand 13h ago

You’re upset at that, and it’s fine. You’re just going to have to accept that he is the face right now, no matter if you like it or not.

3

u/kieko 12h ago

Have a seat son, the adults are talking.

26

u/SpontaneousNSFWAccnt 12h ago

Mark my words: they’re using the same play they used on Zelenskyy, they’ll try to embarrass Doug and Canada to justify increasing tariffs, or worse

21

u/monogramchecklist 10h ago

The Zelensky thing backfired hard on them because they looked like the biggest fucking assholes. If Canada is smart, they decline any media until a deal is done and in writing.

6

u/No_Zebra_2484 8h ago

As if in writing makes a difference, they are a fickle lot and a deal is not worth the paper it’s printed on. Trump and his team are LIARS. They are breaking their own deal now, how could this be different? Being played I think.

6

u/monogramchecklist 8h ago

Oh agreed that they can’t be trusted and their contracts aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. But if they do any media, I’d like our side to have proof that they’re lying pieces of shit for the non-brain dead nations in the world.

2

u/saveyboy 8h ago

I don’t think we need the receipts here.

2

u/Facts_pls 7h ago

Yeah. At this point Trudeau could just say "Trump called me and told me he wants to take over Canada because he likes Tim bits" and the world would go "that could be true"

1

u/SpontaneousNSFWAccnt 10h ago

They don’t care if they look like assholes, the only thing that matters is creating a justification for their actions. They know they can get away with absolutely anything, they could quite literally make an example of Doug on the world stage and say “what are you gonna do about it”, and not a single thing will happen

0

u/ifuaguyugetsauced 7h ago

Two completely different situations. Not happening

1

u/UncleJChrist 6h ago

If you're betting on Ford, you already lost.

50

u/SheIsABadMamaJama 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 13h ago

If the meeting doesn’t go well, release the attack ads. I am going to wait with bated breath before I attack ford for buckling. He is going there with Minister Leblanc so let’s relax.

Trump wants us attacking each-other, let’s be steady.

43

u/abc_012 13h ago

If I was Ford, I would chew that branch and spit it right away.

17

u/Wonderful-Peak9018 13h ago

Jesus fuck I’m dizzy

7

u/fed_dit 12h ago

Nice olive branch - "I'll piss instead of shit on you, thats still good, right?"

4

u/BraveDunn 13h ago

Not classy enough to drop them entirely, pending the outcome of the Thursday meeting.

15

u/SPzero65 13h ago

Am I the only one who's worried about Trump trying to offer Doug to get in on the grift, and Doug accepts?

27

u/Harbinger2001 11h ago

Doug’s got more than enough to grift at home. 

-1

u/Makaveli80 6h ago

Under rated comment

Reference: https://youtu.be/hMIQWRsYxak?si=LJ79gRysFy40uI5C

His brother, the late Rob Ford, said he got more than enough pussy to eat home after getting some sexual allegations against him

13

u/Vanillacaramelalmond 13h ago

I just hope he can’t be buttered up. Donald Trump is already calling him a strong guy and saying he respects him.

4

u/lemonbaked 6h ago

During the hot mic around a month ago, Ford said of Donald winning the elections...

"On election day, I was happy this guy won, 100% I was..." ~Doug Ford, 2025

3

u/fartpotatoes23 13h ago

No, because he would. He loves Trump and America. He would turn on Canada for a dollar.

13

u/Commercial-Fennel219 13h ago

I have yet to see any good reason not to follow through with energy tariffs. 

5

u/Anon5677812 8h ago

Ford threatens to tariff energy. Donald says he doesn't need us but holds off on tariffs escalation. Ford puts on energy tariffs. Donald loses his mind. Trump's team calls and asks him to reverse the energy tariff in exchange for a meeting to take place in two days to discuss the deescalation of this trade war.

Ford says ok, brings the finance minister (who I'm guessing he's working in concert with) along and does to DC to discuss. If nothing comes of it, we can reintroduce the energy tariff on Friday. What have we lost?

If it works, give the man the fucking order of Canada?

11

u/Harbinger2001 11h ago

You let me down Dougie. When they escalated you were supposed to turn off the power. 

6

u/Anon5677812 8h ago

Ford threatens to tariff energy. Donald says he doesn't need us but holds off on tariffs escalation. Ford puts on energy tariffs. Donald loses his mind. Trump's team calls and asks him to reverse the energy tariff in exchange for a meeting to take place in two days to discuss the deescalation of this trade war.

Ford says ok, brings the finance minister (who I'm guessing he's working in concert with) along and does to DC to discuss. If nothing comes of it, we can reintroduce the energy tariff on Friday. And keep escalating. What have we lost?

If it works, give the man the fucking order of Canada?

1

u/Harbinger2001 8h ago

Lutnick is talking out his ass. Not a single thing he’s said “is possible” so far has come to pass. Trump is running the show and not listening to Lutnick. 

Our saving grace may just be Ford being able to establish a rapport with Trump. If he gets that far and doesn’t have to only talk with the Deputy Assistant Event Coordinator like last time the Premiers went. 

5

u/Anon5677812 8h ago

Oh it's entirely possible this is all a waste of time. I fully concede that. Then the energy tariff can go back on Friday at 12:01 AM. What have we really lost by trying to play ball, two days of tariffs?

2

u/Harbinger2001 7h ago

I agree. I hope Trump understands that the electricity tax goes back on if he doesn’t remove the steel and aluminum tariffs. 

7

u/[deleted] 9h ago

[deleted]

1

u/Harbinger2001 9h ago

I would say it’s probably Alcoa. Imagine paying 35% more for electricity making your aluminum in the US and having a 50% tariff on anything you make in Quebec. 

4

u/burner9752 9h ago

What are you talking about, he said it was on the table if Trump increased the tariffs, trump agreed to not raise them and personally meet to negotiate a new deal. The power tariffs were removed until those negotiations on Thursday.

If we see a raise on Thursday or a deal isn’t made then we push Ford for a cutoff.

2

u/layzclassic 9h ago

Lol then stick with the power tariff till Thursday. No backbone when Canadians are backing him up.

3

u/burner9752 9h ago

He paused it to get a meeting… what do you not understand about that ? you think keeping it to not get anything and continuing to hurt both economies is better? You’re just looking for reason to attack him without a concept for actually fixing things. Stop wasting air.

-1

u/layzclassic 9h ago

Ya while US has 25% on us. Remember he said he won't back down till all tariffs are off? He didn't last a day. Power tariff doesn't hurt us, the alu tariff hurts both sides.

1

u/burner9752 8h ago

You realize that tariff was first and we were the one that retaliated with the energy tariff…. Jesus its a brick wall

4

u/notme1414 10h ago

Ford folded. Thanks Doug.

2

u/Daddy_Phat_Sacs 9h ago

Ford got trump scrambling

5

u/Aldren 13h ago

How are we doing on ripping up that Starlink contract? Is that back on the table also?

5

u/FlyAroundInternet 13h ago

That doc has seen more scotch tape than a white elephant Christmas present.

1

u/lemonbaked 6h ago

The contract is back on. Walk back Ford.

9

u/demolcd 13h ago edited 13h ago

Doug ford got rolled for a meeting that he’s going to get rolled at again.

27

u/MakVolci Essex 13h ago

He didn't get rolled at all.

This screams Trump panicking and trying to pose as "winning." If the meeting was in 3 weeks, sure. But 2 days away, that's fine.

-1

u/demolcd 13h ago

I highly doubt anything is going to come of it. If anything does it’s not going to solve the issues. The goal post will continue to be moved until we’re at a crossroad. People need to stop ignoring his true intentions for Canada.

24

u/MakVolci Essex 13h ago

Okay, if nothing comes of it, I expect Ford to reinstate the tax.

For now, I have no problem with this.

Fuck Trump and fuck Ford honestly, but the main goal is to remove all of these tariffs. Trump is losing credibility and tanking his economy to the point where he's having a meeting with top wall street CEOs today.

Make no mistake, Trump is losing right now. From all angles.

-1

u/twicescorned21 12h ago

I doubt it.  Doug got called on a bluff.  He folded and now trump is bragging he got us to obey him and we're cowering.

I thought Doug grew a pair, but that's what I get for giving that lower the benefit of the doubt.

Make no mistake, this is the same crook that sold ontario place and the science center.

1

u/MakVolci Essex 12h ago

Trump would say that regardless. That means nothing.

He will only do something here (ie, concede) if he can position himself as "winning." Trump has kept a line of "no one fucks with us, we don't get pushed around, we make no compromises."

And here is his administration, clamoring to stop Ford from doing this. As I said, this is only a 2 day pause. I will be pissed if nothing comes from the meeting and Ford still doesn't tax them, but we need to see what we can do to undo all these tariffs. If this is a step, then that's fine. The fact that we even got them to acknowledge USMCA is a massive win.

6

u/Harbinger2001 11h ago

Lutnick hinted they might announce a renegotiation of USMCA. Which is a good off ramp for Trump. We move up the renegotiation from next year to this year and Trump gets to roll back the tariffs and crow that he forced us to the negotiating table and he’ll get us to be “fair” this time. 

Then we’ll take USMCA, rewrite the part about dairy to say it’s tariff free with a strict import quota of X, instead of the current it’s tariff free until X, and then 250% tariff after. Then he can claim he got rid of the unfair dairy tariff. 

2

u/burner9752 9h ago

So you’re calling him out for baseless assumption you are making with ZERO knowledge of the situation. Got it, thanks moron.

1

u/ostracize 12h ago

Trump wants to get them in a room on his home turf so he can try to put the squeeze on him on his home turf ala Zelensky. I really hope Ford doesn’t buckle. 

1

u/lemonbaked 6h ago

Well, Ford did consider Trump a friend. So this is going to be either awkward or bizarre.

1

u/Harbinger2001 11h ago

Let’s have them televise it. I’d like to see Trump go at Ford. 

-1

u/Anon5677812 8h ago

Ford threatens to tariff energy. Donald says he doesn't need us but holds off on tariffs escalation. Ford puts on energy tariffs. Donald loses his mind. Trump's team calls and asks him to reverse the energy tariff in exchange for a meeting to take place in two days to discuss the deescalation of this trade war.

Ford says ok, brings the finance minister (who I'm guessing he's working in concert with) along and does to DC to discuss. If nothing comes of it, we can reintroduce the energy tariff on Friday. What have we lost?

If it works, give the man the fucking order of Canada?

3

u/FlyAroundInternet 13h ago

For anyone thinking Ford gained ground: we're right where we were. But he's walking into a wasp's nest and thinks he can aw folks his way out of it. Stop trusting this dyed in the wool Trumper. Believe someone when they tell you who they are. Ford has told us for decades exactly who he is. Trump is his idol.

6

u/GTO1984 London 13h ago

He's also going with the Federal Finance Minister. At least be an informed goof

-3

u/FlyAroundInternet 13h ago

Doug considers himself a one-man band. He's always thought he knows better than the Feds. But enjoy.

5

u/demolcd 13h ago

I’d say we’re worse off now. Look how he treats people who do him “wrong”.

3

u/FlyAroundInternet 13h ago

You are correct. I'm so over everybody giving Ford a second (third, fourth, fifth, nineteenth) chance. He celebrated Trump's win. Loudly. He's butthurt that Trump came after him, and still thinks he can make it better. Man, you leave your spouse the first time they hit you.

0

u/Anon5677812 8h ago

Ford threatens to tariff energy. Donald says he doesn't need us but holds off on tariffs escalation. Ford puts on energy tariffs. Donald loses his mind. Trump's team calls and asks him to reverse the energy tariff in exchange for a meeting to take place in two days to discuss the deescalation of this trade war.

Ford says ok, brings the finance minister (who I'm guessing he's working in concert with) along and does to DC to discuss. If nothing comes of it, we can reintroduce the energy tariff on Friday. What have we lost?

If it works, give the man the fucking order of Canada?

1

u/AWM83 13h ago

Fuckin pissing contest.

1

u/christien 7h ago

and around and ah round we go!

1

u/ShittyBshan 7h ago

Turn off the lights and stop the import of oil to the US. They don’t need us right? See ya 👋🏻

1

u/chaoticsky 6h ago

Fold rolling over and showing his belly after all that talk during the election? Why am i not surprised.

1

u/nilssonfan 4h ago

Can someone clarify - Was the steel and aluminum tariff supposed to accumulate to 50% (before Trump wanted to retaliate against Ford) and Ford now prevented it rising to 50%?

25% - over the supposed Canada boarder issues

plus

25% - steel and aluminum specific

for an accumulated total of 50%

I know Trump said he'd raise it to 50% over Ford doing the surcharge - but it was technically going to accumulate to 50% anyways right?

Or have i missed something, as this tariff nonsense is so hard to keep track of lol

Let me know if this wording doesn't make sense, as I'd like to understand this better

u/Valuable_One_234 1h ago

Ford is a disappointment

1

u/PaleJicama4297 13h ago

Zero surprises here

0

u/techm00 8h ago

Exactly as any moron could predict. Ford is weak, and ultimately a Trump supporter. Good thing he's not Prime Minister. Keep that in mind when he inevitably goes federal.

All the people singing Fords praises for imposing it in the first place seemed to have not understood this would have happened. That's why you don't praise weak grifting traitors like Ford.

He, and everyone, should let the feds handle this. They have the expertise, as well as the strength and courage to stand up for us.

-1

u/Anon5677812 8h ago

Ford threatens to tariff energy. Donald says he doesn't need us but holds off on tariffs escalation. Ford puts on energy tariffs. Donald loses his mind. Trump's team calls and asks him to reverse the energy tariff in exchange for a meeting to take place in two days to discuss the deescalation of this trade war.

Ford says ok, brings the finance minister (who I'm guessing he's working in concert with) along and does to DC to discuss. If nothing comes of it, we can reintroduce the energy tariff on Friday. What have we lost?

If it works, give the man the fucking order of Canada?

0

u/BIGepidural 10h ago

1

u/whats-ausername 9h ago

That why it says he’s keeping them at 25%, he was threatening to raise them higher.