Ontario Premier Doug Ford ‘feels terrible for the American people’ but has issued several warnings
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has hit back at Donald Trump’s tariffs against Canada by revealing the province will charge 25 percent more for electricity.
Trade War Heats Up: Canada Fights Back Against Trump’s ‘Catastrophic’ Tariffs
President Donald Trump wasted no time taking bold action after being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States in January. Among his swift moves was a controversial executive order in February that introduced steep tariffs — 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico and 20% on goods from China — sparking immediate backlash.
In response, Trump suggested that Canada’s best option to avoid the tariffs was to become America’s “cherished 51st state.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau fired back, unveiling counter-tariffs and warning that Canada was in “active and ongoing discussions” with provinces and territories to introduce additional non-tariff measures.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford didn’t mince words either. He threatened to cut off power to 1.5 million U.S. customers in retaliation.
“If the U.S. wants to try to annihilate Ontario, I’ll do everything — including cutting off their energy with a smile on my face,” Ford declared, vowing to hit back “twice as hard.”
While Ford apologized to the American people — clarifying that “it’s not you, it’s your president” — he wasted no time escalating Canada’s response.
During a Toronto press conference, Ford announced that Ontario — a major electricity supplier to Minnesota, New York, and Michigan — will impose a 25% price increase on exported power.
And according to Ford, this could just be the beginning.
Ontario Strikes Back: Electricity Surcharge Targets U.S. Amid Trade War
Ontario has fired back at President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs with a bold new move — introducing a 25% surcharge on electricity sold to the United States.
This surcharge, which applies to all electricity generators exporting to the U.S., is projected to generate between CA $300,000 and $400,000 per day. The revenue, Ontario officials confirm, will be dedicated to supporting Ontario workers, families, and businesses impacted by the economic fallout.
Premier Doug Ford, speaking to reporters, didn’t hold back in warning the U.S.:
“I will not hesitate to increase this charge. If the United States escalates, I will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely.”
While expressing sympathy for American citizens caught in the crossfire, Ford made it clear who he holds responsible:
“Believe me when I say I do not want to do this. I feel terrible for the American people who didn’t start this trade war. It’s one person who is responsible — it’s President Trump.”
This latest move follows Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s earlier announcement of 25% tariffs on CA $155 billion worth of American goods, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing trade tensions between the two nations.
Canada Stands Firm as Trade Tensions Escalate
In response to President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a two-phase countermeasure. The plan begins with tariffs on CA $30 billion worth of American goods immediately, followed by additional tariffs on CA $125 billion in U.S. products set to take effect 21 days later.
While Trump’s 25% tariffs were originally delayed for a month before taking effect on March 4, the U.S. President recently paused some of those tariffs once again, with plans to reinstate them in April.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum responded by pausing Mexico’s retaliatory tariffs, signaling a more measured approach. However, Trudeau has made it clear that Canada’s counter-tariffs will remain firmly in place, underscoring his determination to protect Canadian interests amid the ongoing economic standoff.
