Race Day Live Ohio’s connection to Canada is something many take for granted, but it’s something that we cannot afford to lose.
In places like Put-In-Bay, just five miles from Canada, we’re reminded of the long history of friendship and cooperation between the two nations.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt once praised the peaceful bond between the U.S. and Canada, but recent tensions threaten this relationship, and Ohio could be left suffering the consequences.
The reality is that Ohio’s economy is deeply tied to Canada. In 2023, Ohio sent over $21 billion worth of goods and services to Canada, making up more than 38% of Ohio’s total exports.
A significant portion of these exports is automotive and transportation materials, which provide jobs for nearly 90,000 Ohioans. Farmers in Ohio also rely on Canada as a major market for products like corn, pork, eggs, and vegetables.
Additionally, thousands of Ohioans work for Canadian companies operating in the state, with 275 Canadian-owned businesses employing over 20,000 people.
The trade between Ohio and Canada is a major economic engine that helps support jobs and local industries.
It also goes the other way, with Ohio importing billions of dollars in crude petroleum, aluminum, and steel from Canada.
However, this strong economic connection is at risk. The Trump administration has proposed new tariffs on Canadian goods, and if these tariffs go through, both countries will suffer.
If Canada retaliates with its tariffs, it could lead to job losses, higher prices for consumers, and disruptions in industries that rely on smooth trade.
The trade relationship between the U.S. and Canada has worked for more than 150 years, and breaking it now would be a huge mistake.
Beyond the economy, Ohioans also rely on Canada for joint environmental efforts. For example, Lake Erie, a vital water source for millions of Ohioans, has benefited from years of U.S.-Canada collaboration to fight pollution.
However, environmental threats like algal blooms, agricultural runoff, and climate change are still harming the lake, and they will only be made worse if the two countries stop working together.
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One of the main reasons the Trump administration has cited for imposing tariffs on Canada is the fentanyl crisis.
However, the numbers don’t support this argument. In 2024, only 43 pounds of fentanyl were seized at the northern border, far less than the 21,100 pounds found at the southern border.
Despite these facts, the administration continues to pursue punitive tariffs against Canada, which is unjust.
It’s also important to remember that Canada faces challenges with the flow of firearms from the U.S. Between 2017 and 2021, one-third of the guns used in violent crimes in Canada were legally imported from the U.S.
Despite this, Canada has not responded with tariffs or trade barriers, choosing instead to strengthen cross-border agreements.
If the U.S. continues to provoke Canada, we risk losing our most important trading partner.
While the effects may not be immediate, the long-term consequences of this isolation could be devastating for Ohio. The lesson is clear: Ohio needs Canada, and without it, we will all suffer.
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