Ontario Launches Fortress North America Plan

Premier visited Washington to argue for increased co-operation across North America and for a stronger CUSMA trade agreement

Today, Premier Doug Ford is concluding a mission to Washington, D.C. after unveiling Ontario’s renewed plan for Building Fortress North America by reaching a fair free trade agreement that will create more jobs, lower costs and strengthen North American security. Over two days, Premier Ford is leading an Ontario delegation that is meeting with United States senators and members of Congress, as well as business executives from critical industries including the automotive, aerospace and agricultural sectors.

“Ontario is a vital partner in the continental trading relationships that benefit workers in Canada, the United States and Mexico,” said Premier Ford. “Our Fortress North America plan provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Canada, the United States and Mexico to build on this co-operation, secure North America, create jobs and deliver real results for workers and families.”

During the mission, Premier Ford highlighted how the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) has resulted in years of economic prosperity for the three signatory countries, and how it remains in the best interests of U.S. businesses and consumers to move forward together under a renewed trade deal that unlocks the full potential of Fortress North America.

By increasing collaboration through Fortress North America, Canada, the United States and Mexico can stimulate billions of dollars in new investment, create jobs, lower the cost of living for North American families and restrict the flow of unfair imports from overseas. Fortress North America will also strengthen national security across the continent by building secure and resilient supply chains for critical minerals, nuclear energy, defence production and advanced technologies.

“For generations, Canada, the United States and Mexico have worked together as trusted economic partners, supporting the growth of critical industries and integrated cross-border supply chains,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Ontario's Fortress North America plan reflects our government's continued commitment to strengthening this trilateral trade agreement and ensuring families on both sides of the border stand to benefit from the certainty and stability it offers.”

The Ontario government will continue to support a trilateral agreement that offers certainty and stability to investors, keeps shared North American prosperity moving, while at the same time making our continent the most economically competitive market in the world.

Quick Facts

• Since CUSMA came into force in 2020, U.S. goods exports to Canada have increased by over 36 per cent.
• In 2025 alone, over $1.2 trillion in goods and services moved between the U.S. and Canada, more than $3.3 billion per day.
• In 2025, the province of Ontario ranked as the top export destination for merchandise trade for 11 U.S. states, and the second largest export destination for merchandise trade for 15 additional states.
• The U.S. exports more goods to Canada than it does to China, the United Kingdom and Germany combined. Canada is also America’s largest export market for American-made vehicles, buying more annually than Mexico and all of South America combined.
• U.S. exports of goods and services to Canada support 1.8 million American jobs.