Former U.S. President Donald Trump has lashed out at Canada, branding the country a “tariff abuser” after Ontario imposed a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to Michigan, Minnesota, and New York.
In a fiery Truth Social post on Monday, Trump criticized Ontario’s decision, claiming the province was “not even allowed to do that.” He further escalated tensions by stating, “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.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, in response, defended the surcharge, calling it a necessary move against Trump’s tariff policies. “Until the threat of tariffs is gone for good, Ontario will not relent,” Ford declared, warning that if the U.S. escalates trade restrictions, Ontario “will not hesitate to shut off electricity completely.”
The surcharge is expected to add roughly $100 per month to the energy bills of residents in the affected U.S. states. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize Trump’s actions, calling them “madness” and warning that Minnesotans were becoming “the first victims of Trump’s trade war.”
Trump has long vowed to impose “reciprocal tariffs” on trading partners, with new levies set to take effect on April 2. With tensions rising, this latest dispute threatens to deepen the economic rift between the U.S. and Canada.
