Ontario Premier Doug Ford is set to travel to Texas next week, carrying his pro-trade and anti-tariff messages along with him. Ford’s upcoming multi-day visit will include stops in Houston, Dallas, and Austin, as initially reported by The Toronto Star. During his trip, the premier plans to highlight the significance of Canada-U.S. trade to American business leaders and policymakers in Texas, emphasizing that President Trump’s tariffs on Canada are detrimental to both economies.
According to a statement from Ford’s office, the tariffs imposed on the steel and automobile industries are significantly impacting Ontario. Despite previous efforts by Canada to persuade Trump to lift some of these tariffs, negotiations were disrupted last October following a television advertisement aired by Ford’s government featuring anti-tariff remarks by former President Ronald Reagan. Subsequent talks were halted by Trump, who criticized the ad as “fake.”
Although the tariffs persist, discussions are now underway regarding the renegotiation of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). While federal authorities lead the negotiations, Ford continues his endeavors to strengthen trade and other connections between Ontario and U.S. states. His previous visit to New York in December resulted in an agreement with Governor Kathy Hochul to collaborate on nuclear energy.
During his upcoming Texas trip, Ford is scheduled to meet with representatives from various companies, including WM, Westlake Corporation, Waste Connections, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America Inc., Compass Datacenters, Toyota, Hewlett Packard, and the healthcare giant McKesson, based in Texas. Additionally, Ford will hold a meeting with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican and a Trump ally, who is seeking re-election with the President’s support. This will be the first meeting between Ford and Abbott.
Ford’s office stated that, in anticipation of the CUSMA renegotiation, the premier continues to engage directly with lawmakers from national and state levels, regardless of party affiliation, to foster relationships and advocate for his vision of a closer economic and security partnership between Canada and the U.S., known as Fortress Am-Can.
Accompanying Ford on the diplomatic front, Ontario’s energy and mining minister, Stephen Lecce, will be in Washington next Monday with a delegation from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. Their agenda includes discussions on the importance of upholding CUSMA and eliminating the existing tariffs imposed by Trump.
