Canadian officials are threatening to cut off power to about 1.5 million Americans and ban imports of American beer and liquor as part of a potential trade war with the incoming Trump administration.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has threatened to retaliate against President-elect Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on Canadian products.
Ford said Wednesday in a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other prime ministers that there is a “100% chance that President Trump will follow through on his promise to impose a 25% tariff on all products imported from northern Canada.” ” I predicted that there would be. border.
In response, Ford proposed “cutting off” millions of Americans living on the northern frontier from Ontario's energy exports, according to Global News.
“That would turn off the lights for 1.5 million Americans.” Ford told Global News. “If they're coming at us, we have to stand up for Canadians, and we have to stand up for Ontarians.”
Canada is the largest energy exporter to the United States, spending about $3 billion annually on Canadian electricity generated from hydroelectric power.
Last year, Canada exported approximately 33.2 million megawatt-hours of electricity to the United States. That's more than any other country, and it still accounts for less than 1% of total U.S. energy consumption.
Ontario exports energy to border states such as Michigan and New York.
An Ontario government official told Global News that Ford is considering an “escalation strategy” and is still considering it.
Among the measures being discussed is restricting exports of Canadian minerals essential to the production of electric vehicle batteries.
Ontario could also ban U.S. companies from the province's procurement process, as well as limit imports of U.S.-made alcohol.
One source told the news site that Ontario is taking the possibility of an escalating trade war “very seriously,” even though Ontario could lose up to $500 million in revenue. .
Other Canadian provinces may also join in inflicting further suffering on Americans, the report says.
“Turning off the electricity is one thing,” the official told Global News. “It's a completely different story for Ontario and Quebec to shut off electricity.”
Ford told reporters that Ontario is “sending a message” to the United States.
“You're coming to attack Ontario…We're going to use every tool in our toolbox to protect Ontarians and Canadians across the border,” he said.
“Let's hope that doesn't happen.”
President Trump vowed last month that one of his first acts as commander in chief would be to impose a steep 25% tariff on all products imported from Canada and Mexico.
Trump, 78, argued the mandate was necessary to encourage the United States' northern and southern neighbors to crack down on illegal immigration and drug smuggling.
“As we all know, thousands of people are streaming into Mexico and Canada, bringing with them levels of crime and drugs never seen before,” the president-elect wrote on Truth Social. .
“Currently, a caravan of thousands of people from Mexico appears unstoppable as they attempt to cross the now open border.”
Earlier this week, President Trump criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during tariff negotiations after he allegedly joked at a private dinner about America's northern ally becoming America's 51st state. He continued to troll him, calling him the “governor” of the “great province of Canada.”
Prime Minister Trudeau implored President Trump not to impose high tariffs, saying they would “destroy” his country's economy. Fox News reported.
“So your country has to swindle America out of $100 billion to survive?” Trump reportedly responded, referring to the U.S. trade deficit with Canada.
The newspaper has reached out to Trump's transition team for comment.
