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‘What a mess President Trump has created’: Canadian official on tariffs

The U.S. commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, now says that tariffs on nearly all products from Mexico and Canada will likely get delayed by one month. President Trump could make that announcement later today, but, as of now, those 25 percent tariffs are still in place.

And it comes a day after the White House said it's granting a one-month exemption any autos coming into the country.
 

grant [grænt] v. 同意；給予

exemption [ɪgˋzɛmpʃən] n.（义务等的）免除；免（税）

We're joined now by the premier of Ontario, Doug Ford.

Premier Ford, thanks so much for joining us.

You have been very critical of these tariffs, which is understandable. Does this one-month pause that we're hearing about from the commerce secretary today on the auto tariffs and these other tariffs as well ease any of your concerns?

DOUG FORD, PREMIER OF ONTARIO, CANADA: Well, first of all, Wolf, thank you so much for having me on. And I start every interview with saying I love the Americans. I love the U.S.

But what a mess President Trump has created here. The only thing certain on these 30 days is uncertainty. We have seen investments stall in the U.S. They have seen jobs are going to -- people are going to lose their jobs, and inflation is happening. Everything is going to go up and assembly lines will shut down if he continues.
 

stall [stɔl] v. 拖延，推迟

I have an idea. Let's just drop these tariffs. Let's sit down and renegotiate the USMCA deal that he created. It hasn't changed since he was in office, and he said it was a greatest deal over. So let's move forward and let's bring certainty back. Let's keep the assembly lines going in the U.S. and let's start moving forward on the two strongest countries in the world.

We will build the U.S. economy the likes of which the U.S. has never seen before, but we have to drop these tariffs.

BLITZER: I know you have threatened, Premier, to hit back twice as hard on these U.S. tariffs by cutting off energy exports to the U.S., ripping up a contract with Elon Musk's company, as we all know.
 

rip up 撕毁; 取消(计划等)

What do you think is going to happen?

FORD: Isn't that a shame that we have to put a tariff on the
 

shame [ʃem] n. 憾事；倒霉的事；令人憎恶的事

electricity? I think the world of all three governors in New York and Michigan and Minnesota. Just talked to Governor Walz, which is an incredible individual.

I don't want to do this. I want to send more electricity. But he's basically -- President Trump -- it's not the American people. It's not even the Republicans or Democrats, because I talked to both of them. Republicans totally disagree with it, but God forbid they ever go out publicly and say it.

Let's just put an end to this and let's start building our economy. But, as of Monday, this Monday, we're putting a tariff, 25 percent tariff on the electricity to the 1.5 million homes and businesses in those three states. And, honestly, it really bothers me we have to do this. I don't want to do this. I want to send more electricity, more critical minerals, more oil.

That's what we want to do.

BLITZER: Yes, that's so important. President Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire, as you well know, to make Canada the 51st state of the United States.

[11:30:02]

And he refers to Prime Minister Trudeau as the governor. I see the background behind you right now.

The sign says, "Canada is not for sale," right next to the Canadian flag.

DOUG FORD, PREMIER OF ONTARIO, CANADA: Right.

BLITZER: Do you see those comments from Trump as doing lasting potential damage to this wonderful, over the many years, relationship between these two longtime allies?

FORD: Well, the closest friends, closest allies in the world for over 200 years. The rest of the world are watching us as China is bringing in cheap parts, undermining American workers and Canadian workers.

That's the issue, not your closest ally and friends, your number one customer in the world. And, hopefully, we can mend this relationship. And I can tell you, all Canadians love Americans. It's one person, and that's President Trump, that's creating mass chaos right across North America and, honestly, around the world right now.

Over what? We still -- I know what it's about. It's about his $4.5 trillion tax cut that he can't afford right now, and he wants to pick those costs up off other countries. I take the total opposite approach, Wolf. Let's build the economy. Let's create more revenues. That's what we have done.

I have never raised a tax in my life. There's no reason to.

BLITZER: Prime Minister Trudeau spoke with President Trump on the phone for nearly an hour yesterday, we're told. Trudeau's office called the conversation -- quote -- "productive."

If you could speak with President Trump directly, Premier, what would your message be to him?

FORD: Well, exactly what I was just saying, Wolf. Let's stop the chaos, the uncertainty, assembly plants shutting down, jobs being lost on both sides of the border.

But the American people, the pension funds that they worked their whole lives for, they're being hurt. The market the other day dropped $3 trillion. Then it bounced a little back. And it's like a roller coaster right now.

As you know, because you're a super smart guy, Wolf, the worst thing the market hates is uncertainty. Everyone hates uncertainty. Investment needs uncertainty. So let's get down to the table, let's start talking about the USMCA deal, and let's resolve this once and for all to give certainty to the people of the United States and Canada, two greatest countries in the world.

I call it the Am-Can fortress. Let's build that Am-Can fortress.

BLITZER: And as someone like myself, who grew up in Western New York and Buffalo, right on the border with Canada, we love Canadians, we love Canada, and we hope this situation improves trade dramatically in the coming days.

The premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, thanks so much for joining us.

FORD: Wolf, thank you. God bless America and God bless Canada. Let's get through this.

Thank you so much, Wolf.