Canada is not happy about Trump’s plan.
Doug Ford, the Premier of Ontario, has issued a bold warning to the United States, threatening to halt crucial energy and mineral exports if President-elect Donald Trump follows through with his plan to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods. Ford’s warning comes as Trump aims to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking from Mexico and Canada into the U.S., using tariffs as leverage.
Ford, representing a province known for its substantial oil production, made it clear that Canada would not stand idly by if Trump enacts such a broad tariff. “If President Trump goes forward with this, we will consider cutting off energy exports — to Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, and beyond,” Ford stated in an interview with reporters. He also hinted that Canadian leaders were exploring other avenues to target U.S. exports, with critical minerals and metals at the forefront of the discussion. These are essential to many American industries, and Canada is a top supplier.
The threat comes amid reports that Canada was the largest exporter of energy to the U.S. in 2019, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Ford, understanding the stakes for both nations, said, “Canadians will feel the pain, but the Americans will feel it just as much, and that’s unfortunate.”
Ford has also hinted at other retaliatory actions, such as potentially banning American-made alcohol from being sold in Ontario, as a further measure to hurt U.S. trade. However, political experts have questioned whether Ontario can act unilaterally on energy exports. University of Toronto political science professor Nelson Wiseman cautioned that such a move would require federal approval from Ottawa, complicating Ford’s threat.
President Trump responded to these warnings by dismissing them, stating, “That’s okay if he does that. The United States is subsidizing Canada, and we shouldn’t have to do that.” Trump has consistently argued that the U.S. should not be financially supporting Canada, despite the close economic ties between the two nations.
Ford’s remarks have sparked a larger debate about the fairness of U.S.-Canada trade relations. As both leaders continue to exchange rhetoric, the outcome of this clash could have significant consequences for the future of North American trade.