Ontario’s trade minister warns that U.S. tariffs ‘are coming’

Ont. trade minister Vic Fedeli responds to comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump about proposed tariffs on Canadian imports.

As the province heads for an election, Ontario Trade Minister Vic Fedeli said he expects Canadians will have to deal with a trade war with the United States.

“Let’s not let’s not fool ourselves -- these tariffs are coming,” Fedeli told reporters in North Bay on Friday.

“This is very, very serious. There is a severe economic impact about to hit Canada and hit the Province of Ontario and we are going to need a very strong mandate to be able to fund a recovery.”

U.S President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods, and boasted this week that his country “doesn’t need” to import anything from Canada.

Fedeli, who is Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade, said Trump is ignoring reality.

“I heard President Trump say we don’t need Canada’s lumber,” he said.

Lumber, nickel are key imports

“Well, they buy 84 per cent of all the lumber they import comes from Canada. So, it’s hard to argue with the facts. He just doesn’t seem to pay attention to the facts.”

For northern Ontario, Fedeli said 80 per cent of the nickel used in U.S. aerospace construction comes from Canada, and 56 per cent of the nickel used in defence construction comes from Ontario.

“So, it’s hard to say (Americans) don’t need anything from Ontario,” he said.

“You’re going to need our critical minerals. You will not be able to build an F-35 airplane.”

Regardless, Fedeli said he’s been told that Trump will follow through on his trade threats as he tries to coerce Canada into becoming the “51st state.”

That’s part of the reason why Premier Doug Ford is calling an election, which sources say will take place Feb. 27.

“This will be tens of billions of dollars that we are going to ask the people of Ontario to let us borrow to be able to help families and businesses throughout the next weeks, months and, God only hope, it’s not years,” Fedeli said.

“We’re about to spend tens of billions of dollars and we think the people should have a say. It’s their money that it will be spent. We think the people should have a say on how that money is spent and whether we should be doing that.”

Trump not bluffing

Fedeli was in Washington earlier this week to attend Trump’s inauguration. He met with former Republican Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, who told him he didn’t think Trump was bluffing.

“(Gingrich) said, ‘He’s bringing these tariffs in,’” Fedeli said.

“Let’s not let’s not fool ourselves. These tariffs are coming.”

While the tariffs would harm Ontario and Canada, he said dozens of U.S. states would also feel the pinch.

“We are the No. 1 customer for 17 U.S. states. We’re the No. 2 customer for 11 more states,” Fedeli said.

“If we have a trade war between us, those 28 states, they’re going to hurt more than anybody.”