Title: Ontario Premier Advocates for Direct U.S. Trade Deal
Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated that provincial leaders in Canada want the federal government to pursue a trade agreement with the United States, excluding Mexico. Ford led a call among all 13 provincial and territorial leaders. He emphasized the need for a direct trade deal with the U.S. as the top priority.
“There is a clear consensus that everyone agrees we need a bilateral trade deal with the U.S. and a separate deal with Mexico,” Ford told reporters in Toronto. He expressed concerns over Mexico allegedly using cheap Chinese parts labeled as ‘made in Mexico’ to export goods to the U.S. and Canada, which he claimed causes job losses in both countries.
Ford announced that provincial and territorial leaders will meet in person in Toronto mid-December to discuss these trade concerns further. They also expressed interest in attending a meeting of U.S. governors in February and have requested a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss these issues.
The Canadian federal government did not rule out excluding Mexico from future trade talks. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland acknowledged that Canada shares the U.S. concerns over Mexico’s role in allowing cheaper goods from China into the North American market. As Ottawa prepares for a scheduled review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in 2026, Freeland is leading a special cabinet committee focusing on U.S.-Canada relations.
Trudeau and Trump previously discussed the USMCA after Trump’s electoral victory. The Canadian government has historically approached trade negotiations with a collaborative “Team Canada” strategy, involving leaders from various parties.
As Canada navigates these trade discussions, leaders are hopeful for a favorable outcome that benefits both Canadian and American workers.
