# Tariffs hurt Ontario but don't explain economic decline

> Ontario's economic struggles predate Trump tariffs, with per-person GDP growth lagging behind peers.
- Title: Tariffs hurt Ontario but don't explain economic decline
- Summary: Ontario's economic struggles predate Trump tariffs, with per-person GDP growth lagging behind peers. Ontario's economic decline began long before U.S…
- Keywords: ontario, gdp, tariffs, trump, canada, economic decline, per person gdp, money, business, hurt, don't, explain
- Source: Financialpost — https://financialpost.com/opinion/opinion-tariffs-hurt-ontario-but-dont-explain-economic-decline
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ontario, gdp, tariffs, trump, canada, economic decline, per person gdp, money, business
## Ontario's economic struggles
Ontario's per-person GDP growth ranks 51st among 60 jurisdictions, lagging behind states like Alabama and Kentucky.
## Tariffs impact limited
U.S. tariffs hurt Ontario's manufacturing and economy, but the province's decline began long before Trump's trade war.
## GDP growth comparison
Ontario's real per-person gdp grew 18 percent from 1999 to 2024, the fifth-slowest rate among provinces and states.
## Income stagnation
Ontario's median employment income ranks 54th nationally, behind states like Mississippi and South Carolina.
## Key takeaway

Ontario's economic decline began long before U.S. tariffs, with per-person GDP growth at 51st place nationally.