Ontario Premier Doug Ford says Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has committed to lowering U-S tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel back to 25 per cent.
The move comes after Ontario agreed to pause a surcharge on electricity exports to the United States.
Earlier on Tuesday, U-S President Donald Trump said he would double the duties set to be implemented Wednesday because of the electricity surcharge.
Speaking at the White House Tuesday afternoon, Trump said he approves of Ford’s decision to suspend the surcharge.
Ontario suspended its 25 per cent surcharge on electricity to the U-S after what the premier calls an “olive branch” from a top American official.
Premier Doug Ford pulled back on the surcharge after he and the U-S commerce secretary agreed to meet in Washington.
U-S Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick invited Ford and federal Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc to D-C on Thursday.
They’re expected to discuss a renewal of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement on trade ahead of Trump’s April 2nd reciprocal tariff deadline.
