Ontario Premier Doug Ford agreed to suspend a surcharge on electricity exports to US states a few hours after Trump threatened retaliation against Canada.
On Monday evening Doug Ford threatened to cut off electricity to US states in response to Trump’s tariffs on Canada.
“If we go into a recession, it will be called the Trump recession,” Doug Ford said in an interview with CNBC’s “Money Movers.”
Doug Ford said cutting off electricity to the US is a tool in his toolkit.
“That’s the last thing I want to do,” Doug Ford said. “I want to send more electricity down to the US, to our closest allies or our best neighbors in the world. I want to send more electricity.”
Doug Ford added, “Is it a tool in our tool kit? One hundred percent, and as he continues to hurt Canadian families, Ontario families, I won’t hesitate to do that.”
Trump responded to Doug Ford’s threats by slapping an additional 25% tariff to 50%, on all steel and aluminum coming into the US from Canada.
“Based on Ontario, Canada, placing a 25% Tariff on “Electricity” coming into the United States, I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. This will go into effect TOMORROW MORNING, March 12th. Also, Canada must immediately drop their Anti-American Farmer Tariff of 250% to 390% on various U.S. dairy products, which has long been considered outrageous. I will shortly be declaring a National Emergency on Electricity within the threatened area. This will allow the U.S to quickly do what has to be done to alleviate this abusive threat from Canada. If other egregious, long time Tariffs are not likewise dropped by Canada, I will substantially increase, on April 2nd, the Tariffs on Cars coming into the U.S. which will, essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada. Those cars can easily be made in the USA! Also, Canada pays very little for National Security, relying on the United States for military protection. We are subsidizing Canada to the tune of more than 200 Billion Dollars a year. WHY??? This cannot continue. 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. Canadians’ taxes will be very substantially reduced, they will be more secure, militarily and otherwise, than ever before, there would no longer be a Northern Border problem, and the greatest and most powerful nation in the World will be bigger, better and stronger than ever — And Canada will be a big part of that. The artificial line of separation drawn many years ago will finally disappear, and we will have the safest and most beautiful Nation anywhere in the World — And your brilliant anthem, “O Canada,” will continue to play, but now representing a GREAT and POWERFUL STATE within the greatest Nation that the World has ever seen!” Trump said on Truth Social on Tuesday.
A few hours later…
Later Tuesday, Doug Ford caved and said he has agreed to suspend its surcharge on exports of electricity to Michigan, New York and Minnesota.
Please see a joint statement from United States Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and myself:
Today, United States Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Premier of Ontario Doug Ford had a productive conversation about the economic relationship between the United States and Canada.
Secretary Lutnick agreed to officially meet with Premier Ford in Washington on Thursday, March 13 alongside the United States Trade Representative to discuss a renewed USMCA ahead of the April 2 reciprocal tariff deadline. In response, Ontario agreed to suspend its 25 per cent surcharge on exports of electricity to Michigan, New York and Minnesota.
The post BREAKING: Canada Caves: Ontario Premier Agrees to Suspend Surcharge on Electricity Exports to US a Few Hours After Trump Threatens Retaliation appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.