President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he would double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum products in response to Ontario’s retaliatory electricity tariff.
The new 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum will take effect Wednesday morning, the president said.
The move comes after Ontario placed a 25% tariff on electricity coming into the United States. Ontario supplies electricity to Minnesota, New York and Michigan.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford vowed to maintain an aggressive approach.
“I will not hesitate to increase this charge. If the United States escalates, I will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely,” Ford said at a news conference in Toronto.
Trump ripped Canada in a post on Truth Social, saying he would declare a national emergency for the states Ontario is targeting with the electricity tariff.
“Why would our Country allow another Country to supply us with electricity, even for a small area? Who made these decisions, and why? And can you imagine Canada stooping so low as to use ELECTRICITY, that so affects the life of innocent people, as a bargaining chip and threat? They will pay a financial price for this so big that it will be read about in History Books for many years to come!” Trump posted.
He also threatened to “substantially increase” tariffs on Canadian cars next month unless Canada drops its “other egregious, long time Tariffs.” He demanded Canada drop its “Anti-American Farmer Tariff” on various U.S. dairy products, which he said has “long been considered outrageous.”
Trump said Canada pays “very little” for national security and relies on the United States for military protection.
“We are subsidizing Canada to the tune of more than 200 Billion Dollars a year. WHY??? This cannot continue,” Trump said.
“The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State. This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear. Canadians’ taxes will be very substantially reduced, they will be more secure, militarily and otherwise, than ever before, there would no longer be a Northern Border problem, and the greatest and most powerful nation in the World will be bigger, better and stronger than ever — And Canada will be a big part of that. The artificial line of separation drawn many years ago will finally disappear, and we will have the safest and most beautiful Nation anywhere in the World — And your brilliant anthem, “O Canada,” will continue to play, but now representing a GREAT and POWERFUL STATE within the greatest Nation that the World has ever seen!” Trump posted.
A day earlier, on Monday, Trump called Canada a “tariff abuser.”
“We don’t need your Cars, we don’t need your Lumber, we don’t [need] your Energy, and very soon, you will find that out,” Trump posted.
Trump has imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China to pressure them to stop the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl into the United States.
