The premier of Canada’s most populous province announced on Wednesday that he would halt energy exports to the United States if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on imposing broad tariffs on all Canadian goods.
Trump has warned of a 25% tax on all imports from Canada and Mexico unless measures are taken to curb the flow of migrants and drugs.
“We’re going to put our list together, and I’m sure the other provinces will as well. But we will go to the full extent, depending on how far this goes. We will go to the extent of cutting off their energy,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said after meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other provincial premiers.
Ford said he didn’t want this to happen but wasn’t optimistic Canada could avoid tariffs.
“This fight is 100% coming on Jan. 20 or Jan. 21,” he said, referencing to the date of Trump’s inauguration.
“We will use every tool in our tool box to fight back. We can’t sit back and roll over. We just won’t as a country. And isn’t this a shame, our closest friends and allies.”
Approximately 60% of U.S. crude oil imports and 85% of U.S. electricity imports come from Canada.
It was not immediately clear whether Ford was referring to all Canadian provinces halting energy exports to the U.S. or just his own province.
However, Grace Lee, a spokeswoman for Ford, confirmed that the issue was discussed during the call between Trudeau and the provincial premiers.
“Premier Ford can only speak on behalf of Ontario, but its an area of provincial jurisdiction that we would certainly look at,” Lee said in an email.
Lee highlighted that in 2023, Ontario supplied enough electricity to power 1.5 million homes in the U.S., making it a significant exporter of electricity to Michigan, Minnesota, and New York.
The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the threat.
Additionally, Canada is the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum, and uranium to the U.S. It also possesses 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon views as essential and is actively investing in to enhance national security.
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