Additional Coverage:
- Karoline Leavitt warns ‘grave consequences’ for Canada if they ‘think about’ cutting US electricity (irishstar.com)
Tensions Flare as US-Canada Trade War Escalates
The trade war between the US and Canada continues to heat up, with threats of retaliatory measures flying between both nations. The latest volley comes after former President Donald Trump, and echoing him, Karoline Leavitt, warned of “grave consequences” should Canada decide to cut off electricity to American homes.
The source of the contention? Trump recently reinstated tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel, a move that Ontario Premier Doug Ford called “a disaster for the US economy.”
Ford has vowed that Ontario “will not back down,” even threatening to completely halt the flow of electricity to approximately 1.5 million American homes in Michigan, Minnesota, and New York. Ontario currently supplies power to these homes.
Ford has emphasized that Ontario will continue its retaliatory measures, including a 25% surcharge on electricity exported to the US, expected to generate hundreds of thousands of US dollars daily. This revenue will be used to support Ontario workers and businesses impacted by the tariffs. This surcharge is in addition to previously announced retaliatory tariffs on a range of American goods.
Trump took to social media to double down on his position, questioning the reliance on Canadian electricity and threatening significant financial repercussions against Canada. He stated that such actions would be recorded in history books for years to come. The strong rhetoric from both sides signals a deepening divide and an escalating trade war with potentially significant consequences for citizens on both sides of the border.