Ontario Premier Doug Ford says U.S. tariffs would leave Ronald Reagan “throwing up,” after PM Mark Carney exits trade talks

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he believed former U.S. President Ronald Reagan would be “throwing up” over President Trump’s tariffs, as Ford criticized a trade negotiating impasse involving Canada and the United States. Ford made the remarks after Prime Minister Mark Carney stepped away from trade talks late Friday, according to PBS NewsHour.

Ford’s comments came as Carney’s withdrawal from the talks indicated that negotiations were not producing an immediate path to agreement. In the same exchange, Ford said the response options for Ontario were broad, telling reporters that “everything is on the table,” a phrase used to indicate potential next steps rather than a specific action announced on the spot.

The dispute centers on tariffs associated with the Trump administration’s approach to trade. While the PBS NewsHour report did not lay out new tariff figures in the description provided, it framed Ontario’s reaction as rooted in the view that the tariffs would harm economic interests in the province and complicate cross-border commerce.

Ford’s Reagan reference was presented as a rhetorical contrast between the former Republican president’s views and the current tariff policy under Trump. The remark was not tied, in the reported framing, to a specific legal filing or policy instrument, but it underscored Ford’s emphasis on conservative principles of economic policy and the perceived consequences of tariff barriers.

The Carney talks exit described by PBS NewsHour late Friday adds to uncertainty about the immediate diplomatic and commercial timeline. With one side stepping back from negotiations, Ontario’s premier used the moment to press for a wider range of options, indicating that the negotiation breakdown could prompt changes in posture at multiple levels of government.

Ford’s statement also reflects a practical concern about downstream impacts of tariff uncertainty on businesses and communities. Tariffs can raise costs for importers and manufacturers and disrupt pricing and supply chains, effects that frequently extend beyond the trade ministers involved and into provincial policy considerations.

The next step, based on the sequence described, is likely to involve whether Carney’s administration resumes talks or shifts approach, and whether Ontario follows through with any specific measures consistent with Ford’s “everything is on the table” characterization. Until additional details emerge, the reported development is a widening gap between negotiating partners and a more forceful provincial stance tied to the tariff dispute.