Hours after the American president Donald Trump Again blind in Canada with the announcement of prices on its growing automotive sector, Ontario Premier Doug Ford received a call from the United States Secretary of Commerce.
The call, which Global News can confirm and was reported for the first time by the Globe and Mail, was not a downstream, but rather a late explanation of the way in which Trump’s “permanent” automobile price will work on their return on April 2.
During the telephone call, Ford and Howard Lutnick discussed the impact of prices on the Ontario automotive manufacturing sector, the integrated American pan-north supply chain and a possible price affinity of 25%.
Before the call, Ford said that it had been caught by the pricing announcement after Canadian and American officials stressed that there was “no surprise” when the two parties had a face-to-face meeting earlier this month.
“We thought we would be informed,” Ford told Queen’s Park on Wednesday. “The American administration cannot predict what President Trump will say.”
Speaking on Thursday, Ford said that Lutnick had given him an idea of how the prices would work on April 2 – but that there were still a lot of questions.
“When I asked the Largeick Secretary:” What is April 2 outside the car? ” His answer was: “I don’t know,” said Ford. “I don’t know this answer, but I’m going to tell you, and I say it all the time, we have to fight as if we have never fought before.”
As part of the current decree, which should take effect on April 2, the automotive parts will not be affected, only the finished cars.
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Vehicles that are 50% of American parts will only be priced on the Canadian part, which would represent a rate of 12.5%. For vehicles where more than 50% of the parts are American, the Ford team has been informed that the United States would apply no rate.
Ford said Lodnick said there is no closure of plants as a result of prices.
While Ford and Lunick remain connected, the Ontario representative in Washington, DC, concedes that his offensive charm to try to convince Trump not to take prices in Canada is “finished” – despite some results.
Shortly before Trump was re -elected to the Oval Office in November 2024, Ford began to focus on the solidification of relations with American legislators who could echo the concerns of the province in the event of a trade war.
These meetings, with the levels of the State and the Congress, were designed to remind American politicians the historic commercial relationship. They were also used to promote Ford “Fortress Amcan” strategy, land to provide the United States broader access to Canadian critical minerals and other crucial exports.
The meetings were accompanied by a massive campaign of advertisements broadcast on the main information networks and during sports games. Ford himself also appeared through American channels like Fox News and CNN.
David Paterson, representative of Ontario at Capitol Hill and former manager of General Motors Canada, told Global News that this phase seems to be finished.
“I think the charming offensive has been over for a long time,” said Paterson. “We are talking about business and we are talking about mutual economic development.”
He suggested that Ontario admitted that it had trouble changing American politics.
“We do it with respect. We are dealing with the United States as a sovereign country that can make major decisions, and we try to make sure that we understand the motivation of these decisions so that we can act in a respectful way,” said Paterson.
The change of strategy seems to be a recognition of the fact that Trump alone is the main engine of the changing landscape.
“That you were talking to the secretary of commerce, the ambassador of the US trade representative, that you were talking to the Secretary of State, the President will decide on these key things that he has promised and for his plan to move forward,” said Paterson.
Asked on Wednesday if he had reconsidered the AMCAN fortress strategy, Ford said he did not think that the province should “shoot it”.
“I think we are stronger together – if we work together – and that is the message to the American people,” said Ford.
Paterson said Ontario officials also took the advice of Lutnick at its nominal value.
“Be pragmatic, be focused on the data,” he said. “In other words, share the facts. And let’s be oriented towards the results. “
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