Doug Ford has warned he will shut off power to 1.5 million US customers amid Trump’s new tariffs
A Canadian Premier has claimed he will shut off power to 1.5 million US customers after Donald Trump announced controversial new tariffs.
Trump’s Tariffs Shake Global Trade: Calls for Canada to Become the ’51st State’
Just weeks after reclaiming the White House in January, President Trump unleashed a wave of sweeping tariffs, aiming to “hold China, Mexico, and Canada accountable” for what he calls their failure to curb the flow of “poisonous drugs” into the U.S.
His executive order slaps a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on Chinese goods, a move economists warn could have catastrophic consequences for global trade.
In a stunning statement, the 47th President declared that the only way for Canada to escape these tariffs is to join the U.S. as its “cherished 51st state.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wasted no time firing back. In a March 3 statement, he condemned the move:
“Today, after a 30-day pause, the United States administration has decided to proceed with imposing 25 percent tariffs on Canadian exports and 10 percent tariffs on Canadian energy. Let me be unequivocally clear – there is no justification for these actions.”
As tensions escalate, the world watches to see how this high-stakes economic battle unfolds.
U.S.-Canada Tensions Boil Over as Tariffs Spark Fierce Backlash
The White House has defended its sweeping new tariffs, insisting they are part of President Trump’s bold strategy to hold Mexico, Canada, and China accountable for their commitments to stop illegal immigration and the flow of fentanyl into the U.S.
An official statement justifying the move highlights alarming figures:
“There is growing production of fentanyl in Canada, and enough fentanyl was seized at the northern border last fiscal year to kill 9.8 million Americans. Additionally, illegal border crossings from Canada reached historic new highs every year for the last four fiscal years.”
However, the backlash from Canada has been swift and intense—especially from Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who secured a third majority victory last week. In a fiery press conference, Ford warned of severe retaliation, saying:
“If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do anything, including cutting off their energy — with a smile on my face. They need to feel the pain. They want to come at us hard? We’ve got to go back twice as hard.”
Speaking to NBC, Ford doubled down, reminding the U.S. just how much Ontario powers American industries and homes:
“We keep the lights on in 1.5 million homes and manufacturing in New York, Michigan, and Minnesota. If he wants to destroy our economy and our families, I will shut down the electricity going into the U.S.”
With tensions at a boiling point, a full-blown trade war between the U.S. and Canada may be on the horizon. The question remains: Who will blink first?
Ford Doubles Down: Threatens to Cut U.S. Energy Supply Over Tariffs
Ontario Premier Doug Ford isn’t backing down. Speaking at a mining convention in downtown Toronto on Monday, Ford reinforced his warning that Ontario is prepared to retaliate against the harsh U.S. tariffs imposed by President Trump.
According to the Toronto Sun, Ford delivered a fiery message:
“If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everything — including cut off their energy with a smile on my face. 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.”
Ford made it clear that Ontario won’t back down, emphasizing that while the federal government leads the charge, his province will stand firm no matter who is in power:
“That’s exactly what we’re going to do. 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.”
With tensions escalating between Canada and the U.S., Ford’s remarks suggest that this trade war is far from over—and Ontario is prepared to make its move.
