Ontario Premier Doug Ford has stated that "the walls are closing in" on U. S. President Donald Trump following the U. S. Supreme Court's decision to strike down many of his tariffs. Ford made the comments at Queen's Park on Monday, urging fellow premiers to raise awareness of the economic disruption caused by Trump's trade policies.
The U. S. Supreme Court ruled that Trump exceeded his authority by imposing tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Trump initially declared a national emergency to enact the tariffs, which included a 35 percent levy on goods from Canada and other countries. However, this ruling does not impact sector-specific tariffs on industries like automobiles, lumber, and metals, nor does it affect goods compliant with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
Despite the SCOTUS decision, Trump has indicated his intention to implement a new global tariff, initially set at 10 percent but later increased to 15 percent. These new tariffs are scheduled to remain in place for 150 days, allowing the Trump administration time to formulate additional tariffs under different legal authorities.
Ford emphasized that the fight against tariffs is ongoing, particularly concerning those impacting the auto, steel, aluminum, and forestry sectors. He affirmed his government's commitment to defending Ontario's economy and workers and is planning a trip to the U. S. in the coming months to advocate for fair trade. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has stated that the city is focused on diversifying its economy to mitigate the impact of ongoing trade tensions.
