Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to three U.S. states in response to trade tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Ford warned that he may cut off power completely if the U.S. escalates the trade war.
“If the United States escalates, I will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely,” Ford said at a press conference. “Believe me when I say I do not want to do this. I feel terrible for the American people because it’s not the American people who started this trade war. It’s one person who’s responsible. That’s President Trump.”
Starting Monday, the surcharge will affect New York, Minnesota, and Michigan, adding about $100 per month to household and business electricity bills, according to Ford.
US-Canada Trade Tension Escalate
Trump recently delayed some tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods but kept others in place. In response, Ford announced the surcharge and warned of further action if the U.S. imposes additional tariffs.
The dispute escalated after Trump threatened new duties on Canadian dairy and lumber products. He also suggested that tariffs on Canada and Mexico could increase beyond 25% if both countries fail to curb the flow of fentanyl into the U.S.
“Along with the 25% surcharge, we are prepared to raise it even further if the U.S. imposes new tariffs on Canadian goods,” Ford said.
The move could hurt Canada’s energy industry, which relies heavily on U.S. exports. Economists warn that if the trade war continues, Canada risks sliding into a recession.
Last week, Ford had vowed to cut off power “with a smile” if Trump continued to impose tariffs on Canadian exports.
Trump Doubles Tariffs on Canada Steel, Aluminum
In response to Ford’s threat, US President Donald Trump has doubled down, announcing he will double the proposed tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel imports, bringing the total to 50%.
The move comes just a day after the US stock market dropped to its lowest in years, and a week after he announced a one-month pause on the tariffs going into effect.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he had instructed his commerce secretary to add an additional 25% tariff on steel and aluminum products from Canada that will go into effect on Wednesday.
The post immediately caused another stock market drop.
He also threatened further tariffs on imported cars if Canada does not drop its tariffs.
Trump also reiterated his desire to incorporate Canada into the United States, saying, “the only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State. This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear.“
He then referred to the US-Canadian border as an “artificial line of separation drawn many years ago,” a false claim he first made in January.
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