Ontario Premier Doug Ford warned on Monday that the province could stop exporting electricity to the United States in response to new tariffs on Canadian goods.
Speaking at a mining conference in Toronto, Ford declared that if the U.S. attempts to “annihilate Ontario,” he would retaliate, even going as far as to cut off electricity exports “with a smile on my face.” He stressed the U.S.’s reliance on Ontario’s power, saying, “They need to feel the pain. If they come at us hard, we’ll come back twice as hard.”
Ford pointed out that states like Michigan, Minnesota, and New York depend on Ontario for electricity. While provincial leaders play a role in trade discussions, Ford emphasized that the federal government is taking the lead in addressing the tariffs. “We’re going to stand shoulder-to-shoulder,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that the 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports will go into effect as scheduled on Tuesday. “The tariffs are all set. They go into effect tomorrow,” he remarked, dismissing any chance for extending negotiations.
In addition, the Trump administration’s reciprocal tariff policy will begin on April 2, meaning the U.S. will impose tariffs on foreign goods that match those faced by American products abroad.
