In an interview with CNN\u2019s Wolf Blitzer that Ford shared on X, the premier also proclaimed the love that Canadians have for Americans and professed an understanding that Americans also love Canadians.<\/p>\n
However, that didn\u2019t change his defiant response to Lutnick and his disparaging comments on Wednesday about Canada, ahead of Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade negotiations.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Lutnick can say whatever he wants,\u201d Ford said in the CNN interview. \u201cWe just have to move forward and make a deal.\u201d<\/p>\n
He addressed allegations that Canada has taken advantage of the U.S. by citing several numbers about any \u201cimbalance\u201d favouring Canada. \u201cIf we didn\u2019t ship four million barrels down to keep people moving in their cars and trucks, there\u2019d be a $30-million (American) surplus.\u201d<\/p>\n
With regard to U.S. trade interactions with Ontario, he said \u201cnine million American wake up every morning to produce a product\u2026or service just for Ontario. And the more tariffs that come, you\u2019re just taxing American people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Listing the oil, cars and goods being sold to the U.S., he argued that the cost of \u201ceverything is increasing because of the tariffs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ford advocated for an even better trade deal than the one already in place. Contrary to Lutnick\u2019s recent insults, such as saying Canadians \u201csuck\u201d<\/a> Ford countered: \u201cWe won\u2019t be calling you names. I can guarantee that.\u201d<\/p>\n As previously reported by National Post<\/a>, there was a tense exchange Wednesday between Lutnick and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, during his testimony before the Senate appropriations subcommittee.<\/p>\n U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testifies during a subcommittee hearing with the Senate Committee on Appropriations in Washington, DC, on April 22, 2026.<\/p>\n Shaheen has been a Democratic senator from New Hampshire since 2009 and was the state\u2019s governor between 1997 and 2003. She noted that tourism is the second-largest industry in New Hampshire, but it has suffered with decline in international visitors, particularly from Canada, which fell 30 per cent last year.<\/p>\n She pinned the drop on \u201cthe loss of trust and goodwill because of this administration\u2019s rhetoric around Canada \u2026 and because of the insults from (the) president, and comments like yours.\u201d<\/p>\n She insisted that a good trade deal will be predicated on good relations: \u201c(W)e are not going to get agreement when we keep insulting people. When we have allies and partners, we should try and work with them, not insult them.\u201d<\/p>\n They clashed over the decision taken by Canadian provinces, in the wake of U.S. tariffs, not to stock U.S. alcohol on provincial liqour store shelves. Lutnick called the policy\u00a0\u201cinsulting and disrespectful to America.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n Asked about that, Ford said: \u201cWhat\u2019s disrespectful is we never started this trade war.\u201d Nor did the American people, he added. Instead, he insists it was Lutnick and Trump \u201cwho attacked our joint economies \u2026 we are so integrated.\u201d<\/p>\n Senator Jeanne Shaheen speaks during a press conference following a vote on Capitol Hill on Nov. 9, 2025 in Washington, DC.<\/p>\n He illustrated that by pointing to the positive impact of Canadian oil and uranium for the American energy economy, as well as Ontario nickel for U.S. manufacturing. He also added the fact that Ontario sends electricity to 1.5 million homes and businesses in New York state, Michigan and Minnesota.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, he added that \u201cno country\u201d buys more from the U.S. than Canada \u201cand vice-versa. We are each other\u2019s number one customer.\u201d<\/p>\n Yet, when one \u201cparticular family member (President Trump) attacks our country, that\u2019s a problem, but we don\u2019t hold it against the American people.\u201d However, he noted \u201cit\u2019s unfortunate\u201d Canadians feel the need to boycott the U.S. and not spend \u201ctens of billions of dollars\u201d in tourism in the U.S.<\/p>\n \u201cThis can come to a quick end. Everyone can thrive and prosper.\u201d<\/p>\n Ford urged Trump to \u201ctake a page\u201d out of late U.S. President Ronald Reagan\u2019s book and advocate for \u201copening up\u201d trade and boosting economies.<\/p>\n Reagan \u201cwasn\u2019t about killing trade. (He) was about expanding trade \u2026 the whole world would be better, (as well as) the relationship between Canada and the U.S.\u201d<\/p>\n Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com<\/a> and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/b21fbd2eb6d61668323b0e6913677bdf.jpeg\"\/)
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