Ontario premier Doug Ford says the “temperature is being lowered” after meeting with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington. Finance Minster Dominic LeBlanc, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, and Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman were also at the meeting and say they are better equipped to defend Canadian interests. (March 14, 2025 / The Canadian Press)
Federal ministers, Ont. premier say ‘constructive’ tariff conversations with U.S. commerce secretary
Ontario premier Doug Ford says the “temperature is being lowered” after meeting with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington. Finance Minster Dominic LeBlanc, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, and Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman were also at the meeting and say they are better equipped to defend Canadian interests. (March 14, 2025 / The Canadian Press)
Amid the pain of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, Premier Doug Ford sees an opening to ease the sting of a global trade war.
Ford’s meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington on Thursday provided a road map on how to proceed, sources told the Star.
Robert Benzie is the Star’s Queen’s Park bureau chief and areporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on socialmedia: @robertbenzie.
Rob Ferguson is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontariopolitics for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @robferguson1.
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