Ontario Premier Doug Ford has warned that he might cut off power to the U.S. if President Donald Trump keeps imposing tariffs on Canada. This announcement came right after Trump slapped a 25% tariff on Canadian imports and a 10% tariff on Canadian energy.
To retaliate, Ford plans to add his own 25% surcharge on electricity exports going to Michigan, New York, and Minnesota. He indicated that if the U.S. raises these tariffs further, he might fully cut off electricity to those states.
Currently, around 1.5 million Americans in these states get their power from Canada. Ford’s response aligns with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s actions, which include a 25% tariff on about C$30 billion of U.S. goods.
As the leader of Ontario, Canada’s largest province, Ford has some powerful tools at his disposal. He has already stopped U.S. companies from bidding on Ontario’s infrastructure projects and cancelled a $100 million deal with Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service.
Ford has also reached out to lawmakers in Michigan, New York, and Minnesota, asking them to urge Trump to reconsider the tariffs. He suggested that they might have to face consequences, like losing their electricity supply, if they don’t take action.
Additionally, he’s calling on other Canadian provinces to join him in this effort. However, the timeline for when these proposed tariffs on electricity would take effect remains uncertain. Ford mentioned that he wants to act quickly, without waiting for new legislation that can take weeks to pass. He stated, “We need to act immediately,” and emphasized that action could come if tariffs continue into April.
