Ontario Premier Doug Ford has threatened to cut off energy exports to the United States in response to President Donald Trump’s new 25% tariffs on imports, which took effect early Tuesday morning.
“If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everything — including cut off their energy with a smile on my face,” Ford said Monday, according to the Toronto Sun.
“They rely on our energy, they need to feel the pain. They want to come at us hard, we’re going to come back twice as hard.”
Elon Musk Called This Financial News ‘Terrifying’
The United States is a major consumer of Canadian electricity, with Ontario alone supplying enough energy to power 1.5 million American homes in 2023.
The province is a key exporter of electricity to states including New York, Michigan, and Minnesota.
Ford’s remarks came just hours before Trump’s tariffs took effect at 12:01 a.m.
It was unclear whether the premier was referring to a broader Canadian energy cutoff or if the threat applied solely to Ontario.
In addition to the energy warning, Ford reaffirmed his commitment to imposing equivalent retaliatory measures, promising to match Trump’s 25% tariffs on all imports from Canada, Mexico, and China.
“I [didn’t] start this tariff war, but we’re going to win this tariff war,” Ford said.
“The provinces have a big say in it, but it’s the federal government that’s leading the charge, and we’re going to stand shoulder to shoulder no matter who’s in the federal government.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul responded to Ford’s remarks on Tuesday, downplaying the likelihood of any energy disruptions.
“I’d be happy to have additional conversations with him on how we can support each other during this crisis, so I feel positive that anything within his power that he can control – that we do not have a target on our backs,” Hochul said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also addressed the situation, announcing immediate retaliatory tariffs of 25% on C$30 billion (approximately US$20.7 billion) worth of American imports.
The targeted goods include orange juice, peanut butter, wine, spirits, beer, coffee, appliances, apparel, footwear, motorcycles, cosmetics, and pulp and paper.
Trudeau further warned that Canada would expand its tariffs to an additional C$125 billion of U.S. imports if Trump’s policies remained in effect for more than 21 days.
On Tuesday, Trudeau accused Trump of instigating a trade war, stating, “We will not back down.”
Justin Trudeau is acting all hurt and upset about the tariffs.
All that Trump did was make our tariffs match what Canada was already doing to the USA.
Reciprocal … if Canada increases tariffs, we automatically increase tariffs. If Canada lowers tariffs, so do we. Simple. pic.twitter.com/34wnxNXc2V
— Wall Street Mav (@WallStreetMav) March 5, 2025
BREAKING: President Trump issues a stark warning to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after he announced that Canada will be placing a 25% tariff on $155 billion worth of American goods.
President Trump wrote on Truth Social, “Please explain to Governor Trudeau, of Canada, that when… pic.twitter.com/9zz3qJJn8w
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) March 4, 2025
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