Ontario Premier Criticizes Mexico in US Trade Talks

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has called for a bilateral trade deal between Canada and the U.S., criticizing Mexico for acting as a 'backdoor' for Chinese imports under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Ford argues that Mexico is enabling Chinese companies to bypass tariffs by relabeling products as Mexican-made, which undermines Canadian and American workers. He insists that Mexico should align its tariffs with those of Canada and the U.S. or be excluded from the trade agreement. This stance is echoed by the recent election of Donald Trump, who has expressed similar concerns and intentions to renegotiate the USMCA to prioritize U.S. interests. Canada has already imposed 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and is considering expanding tariffs to other goods, while Mexico has not matched these measures. Ford's comments underscore the potential for significant trade policy shifts as North America prepares for a review of the USMCA in 2026.