Ford says Trump's tariff threat 'like a family member stabbing you in the heart'

Ford said Canada would have "no choice" but to retaliate if the incoming Trump administration went through with the tariff, which would also apply to Mexican goods.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday that U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's threat to slap a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods is "like a family member stabbing you right in the heart."

"It's the biggest threat we've ever seen ... It's unfortunate, its very, very hurtful to Canadians and Americans on both sides," Ford said to media at Queen's Park.

Ford stressed the roughly $500 billion in annual trade between Ontario and the U.S. and said, while the tariff would hurt the Canadian economy, it would also wreak havoc on American workers and employers.

Ford said Canada would have "no choice" but to retaliate if the incoming Trump administration went through with the tariff, which would also apply to Mexican goods.

Ford said the province plans to launch a "stronger together" marketing campaign targeting key U.S. states in the coming weeks.