'With a Smile on My Face,' Canadian Premier Threatens to Halt U.S. Electricity Exports

Ford Warns of Energy Retaliation in Response to U.S. Trade Measures

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has warned that he is ready to halt electricity exports to the United States if President Donald Trump’s proposed 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods take effect.

“If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everything — including cut off their energy with a smile on my face,” Ford declared at a mining convention in Toronto, as reported by the Toronto Sun. The White House / Joey Coleman / Wikimedia

Ford Criticizes U.S. Trade Policy, Calls for Strong Countermeasures

Ford emphasized that the U.S. heavily depends on Canada’s electricity and should feel the economic impact if tariffs proceed. “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,” he said.

In response to Trump’s tariff plan, Ford vowed to implement dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs. “That’s exactly what we’re going to do,” he affirmed. Joey Coleman / Wikimedia

Ontario and Federal Government United in Trade Dispute Response

Ford also noted that both provincial and federal governments in Canada are aligned in their strategy to counteract the U.S. tariffs. “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,” he stated. He further asserted, “I [didn’t] start this tariff war, but we’re going to win this tariff war.” blazejosh / Pixabay

Trump Confirms Immediate Implementation of Canadian and Mexican Tariffs

Trump confirmed that the 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods would take effect the following day, dismissing further negotiations. “The tariffs, they’re all set. They go into effect tomorrow,” he announced, adding there was “no room left for Mexico or Canada” to reach a last-minute deal. GREG LOVETT/PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Trump Encourages U.S. Manufacturing to Avoid Tariffs

The U.S. president linked the tariff imposition to efforts to curb drug trafficking, stating that “vast amounts of fentanyl got poured into our country” through Mexico and China. He also encouraged car manufacturers to relocate operations to the U.S. to avoid the tariffs. “So, what they have to do is build their car plants, frankly, and other things in the United States, in which case they have no tariffs,” Trump said.

Additionally, Trump announced that reciprocal tariffs would begin on April 2, affecting imports from any country imposing tariffs on U.S. goods. Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia