Trump tariffs 'now driving Canada and UK together'

DONALD Trump's protectionist trade policies are driving the UK and Canada closer together.

- By Marco Giannangeli

In an exclusive interview ahead of a UK trade visit this week, Ontario's Trade Minister Vic Fedeli said the province is no longer looking south to the US.

"Every time President Trump speaks, it has a chilling effect because he creates uncertainty. So we need to look globally," he said.

"We've been shifting our trading

'We would like a permanent deal'

relationships, leaving north to south behind to explore east and west."

Mr Fedeli will deliver a speech at Lloyd's of London and meet British defence and tech firms as part of a four-day visit aimed at deepening commercial ties and promoting Ontario as a stable, reliable trading partner.

Trade between Canada's most industrial province which includes capital Ottawa and the UK is worth £15billion in goods. The UK is Ontario's second-largest export market. Around 450 Ontario based companies operate in the UK, while some 260 British firms do business there.