U.S. President Donald Trump has lashed out at Canada, branding it a “tariff abuser” and asserting that the United States no longer requires Canadian energy.
His comments came after Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, imposed a controversial 25 percent surcharge on electricity exports to Michigan, Minnesota, and New York—states that rely on Ontario for power to supply around 1.5 million homes and businesses.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to criticize the move, accusing Ontario of “unjustly” levying a surcharge on electricity. He claimed that the province lacked the authority to make such a decision, calling Canada a “Tariff abuser” that the United States would no longer subsidize.
Trump further added, “We don’t need your cars, your lumber, or your energy—and soon enough, you’ll see that for yourselves.”
This latest move fits into Trump’s ongoing effort to correct what he perceives as unfair trade imbalances. He has long advocated for tariffs that would be “reciprocal” in nature, a plan he is poised to enact beginning April 2.
In the post, Trump reaffirmed his intent to implement these tariffs, stating, “Because our tariffs are reciprocal, we’ll just get it all back on April 2.”
Trump has consistently framed Canada’s trade policies as harmful to U.S. interests. Throughout his tenure, his approach to bilateral trade—especially with Canada—has been marked by aggressive tariffs and uncertainty.
Last Tuesday, he allowed 25 percent tariffs to hit Canadian and Mexican imports, with some last-minute exemptions announced just days later. Still, much of the Canadian imports, particularly energy resources, have been subject to tariffs, although at a lower rate of 10 percent.
In response, Ontario Premier Doug Ford defiantly stated that the province would not back down in the face of ongoing U.S. trade hostilities. “We’re not stopping until the threat of tariffs is eliminated,” Ford declared in a press conference, calling for an end to the “chaos.”
He made it clear that Ontario would continue to implement the 25 percent surcharge and warned that if tensions escalated further, he wouldn’t hesitate to cut off electricity supplies entirely to the affected states.
The surcharge is expected to add an extra $100 per month to electricity bills for residents in Michigan, Minnesota, and New York. Ford also issued a warning, emphasizing that Ontario would act decisively should the situation worsen, stating, “If necessary, I will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely.”
Meanwhile, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz—who was part of Kamala Harris’ vice-presidential campaign last fall—slammed Trump’s trade policies, arguing that they were hurting everyday Americans.
On X (formerly Twitter), Walz remarked that “Minnesotans struggling to pay their skyrocketing electric bills” were the first victims of Trump’s trade war, adding, “Minnesota can’t afford Trump’s billionaire-run economy. We need to put a stop to this madness.”
This ongoing trade battle between the U.S. and Canada—fueled by tariffs and retaliatory actions—raises serious questions about the future of bilateral relations.
What was once a strong economic partnership is now caught in a web of escalating tensions that threaten both sides’ stability.
The question remains: how long will this cycle of economic brinkmanship continue before both nations are forced to reach a resolution?
