Ontario Premier Doug Ford said after a phone call with all leaders on Wednesday that there is “clear agreement” among the premiers on separate bilateral trade deals with the United States and Mexico.
“The most important thing for all you Prime Ministers is that we put all politics aside. We speak as Team Canada and we feel the same way,” said the Canadian Premier. said Mr. Ford, who is also the chairman.
Ford first floated the idea of deporting Mexico last week, following Donald Trump’s reelection to the White House earlier this month. President Trump has vowed to restart the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, which is scheduled to be reviewed in 2026.
Ford argues that Mexico is a back door for China to avoid tariffs from the United States and Canada.
“We know that Mexico imports cheap Chinese parts, slaps ‘Made in Mexico’ stickers on them, ships them through the U.S. and Canada, and costs U.S. and Canadian jobs. I want a trade,” Ford said.
The prime minister also said he would request a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the issue to “make sure we’re all on our side,” but said he had already spoken to Trudeau and said he was “very cooperative.” said.
At the Group of 20 summit in Rio de Janeiro this week, Trudeau said he spoke with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and raised “concerns that many people have publicly expressed about some of our investments in Mexico.” .
“I think the Mexican government is looking at ways to coordinate or share why people shouldn’t be concerned about these investments,” Trudeau said Tuesday at the conclusion of the summit.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who heads the reinstated Cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations, also said Tuesday that she has heard “grave concerns” about Mexico from members of both the Biden administration and the Trump team.
“We believe these concerns are valid and Canada shares them as a NAFTA trade partner,” Freeland said.
Alberta Premier Daniel Smith said in an interview with CTV Question Period on Sunday that he supports Ford’s call to exclude Mexico from the trilateral free trade agreement “1,000 per cent.”
“Mexico is moving in a different direction, and it’s clear that Americans want a fair trade relationship,” Smith told Question Period host Vassy Kapelos. “Mexico is not in a position to provide that, especially given the investment from China.”
CTV News has contacted all Prime Minister’s Offices for comment.
With files from CTV’s Spencer Van Dyke
