The head of Canada’s largest province floated a proposal to remove Mexico from the North American trade agreement, known as T-MEC.
Doug Ford, premier of Ontario, raised the idea of returning to a bilateral pact between Canada and the United States like the one that preceded the enactment of NAFTA in 1994.
In a statement posted on social media, Ford criticized Mexico for becoming a “back door for the entry of Chinese cars, auto parts and other products,” and said that this endangers Canadian and American markets and workers.
“If Mexico does not fight transshipment, at least by equalizing Canadian and American tariffs on Chinese imports, it should not have a seat at the table or enjoy access to the largest economy in the world,” he stressed.
Ford advocated for “giving priority to the closest economic partnership on the planet by directly negotiating a bilateral free trade agreement between the United States and Canada that gives priority to American and Canadian workers.”
Ford’s comments come after Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election. Trump himself has warned that he is seeking changes to the USMCA, which is due for review in 2026.
Later at a news conference, Ford said he is proposing that the federal government seek a bilateral trade deal with the United States and perhaps a separate bilateral deal with Mexico, CBC News reported.
“If Mexico wants a bilateral trade deal with Canada, God bless them,” he said. “But I’m not going to be dragged down by these cheap imports that take jobs away from hard-working men and women in Ontario,” he added.
Questioned about Ford’s remarks, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said democracies around the world are concerned about Chinese overcapacity “and the unfair trade practices that the Chinese economy is inflicting on the world.”
He said that “we will continue to work with partners like the United States, and we hope Mexico as well, to make sure that we are united in our desire to protect good jobs that are more environmentally responsible than they are in China, more responsible around labor practices and supporting families in meaningful ways.” He avoided saying whether his government would be willing to leave Mexico out of the USMCA.
Source: eluniversal
