Ontario's Leader Ford issues warning to Trump, suggesting potential power outages.
It wasn't unexpected for Trump to threaten tariffs on China and Mexico, but his intentions towards Canada were quite unexpected. However, Ontario's premier, Doug Ford, is standing his ground and retaliating to some extent. If executed, certain lights in the U.S. might end up being switched off.
In response to President-elect Trump's plans to impose tariffs on goods from neighboring countries Mexico and Canada, Ontario has made a bold move. Premier Doug Ford declared that in the escalating trade dispute, Ontario is prepared to halt energy exports to states like Michigan, New York, and Wisconsin.
During a video conference with regional leaders and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ford expressed his stance. Trudeau detailed his strategy to counter Trump's trade policies. Trump has announced that he plans to impose tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada as one of his early presidential actions.
Ford's office reported that Ontario exported 12 terawatt-hours of electricity to Minnesota, New York, and Michigan last year, which is enough power for approximately 1.5 million homes. Ford emphasized that while he doesn't want to resort to such measures, his priority is to protect Ontario, its people, and all Canadians.
The Canadian government initially remained silent on whether they support Ford's extreme strategies. However, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters in Ottawa post the video conference that several premiers have publicly expressed their strong support for a forceful Canadian response to unjustified tariffs.
Prime Minister Trudeau described this week's situation as a "significant challenge for Canada," labeling Trump's tariffs as potentially "catastrophic" for his country. He emphasized that the Canadian government is determined to confront this challenge head-on.
Following Trump's announcement of tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico, trade disputes have escalated. In response, Ontario has threatened to halt energy exports to states that import significantly from Ontario, such as Michigan, New York, and Wisconsin, as a form of retaliation.
