The high-stakes meeting between Canadian and U.S. officials ended without an agreement on removing tariffs, but Ontario Premier Doug Ford called it “productive,” with another meeting scheduled next week. Ford, along with Canadian officials, engaged with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and other American representatives, emphasizing that the tariffs were unjustified and advocating for stronger North American economic cooperation.

The meeting followed tensions between the two countries after Ford imposed a 25% surcharge on electricity sold to the U.S. in response to tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. The surcharge was later paused after Lutnick offered a meeting. Despite adversarial remarks from Lutnick and former President Trump, Ford remained firm in defending Canadian interests while seeking a constructive dialogue.

While no immediate resolutions were reached, Canadian officials viewed the engagement as progress, acknowledging disagreements but stressing the importance of continued discussions to better understand U.S. trade policies.