Ontario eyes more trade with countries overseas in wake of Trump tariffs [Video]

Ontario is re-examining its trade strategy in the wake of American tariffs on Canadian goods, looking to focus on opening up new markets and attracting more overseas investment once the immediate economic threat passes.

The province does about $500 billion in annual two-way trade with the United States. It’s the largest trading partner for 17 U.S. states and the second-largest to 11 others — statistics Premier Doug Ford would frequently rattle off in the early days of this trade battle.

At the time it was a message of joint strength, an “Am-Can Fortress,” as Ford frequently liked to say.

But now, with the United States imposing 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, threatening lumber and dairy tariffs and delaying but not killing across-the-board tariffs on Canadian goods, President Donald Trump has cast a pall on that trade reliance.

Ford said Monday at a press conference that Ontario …