Trump slams Ontario tariffs on electricity, says 'we’ll just get it all back' when reciprocal tariffs go into effect

President Donald Trump criticized the surcharge of 25 percent put on electricity by Ontario, saying that "we’ll just get it all back" once his April 2 reciprocal tariffs go into effect. This comes after Ontario Premier Doug Ford has said that he is prepared to "shut the electricity off completely" going to three states if the US continues to escalate its tariffs against its northern neighbor.

Trump posted on Truth Social, "Despite the fact that Canada is charging the USA from 250% to 390% Tariffs on many of our farm products, Ontario just announced a 25% surcharge on 'electricity,' of all things, and your not even allowed to do that. Because our Tariffs are reciprocal, we’ll just get it all back on April 2. Canada is a Tariff abuser, and always has been, but the United States is not going to be subsidizing Canada any longer. 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. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!"


The post came in response to Ford, who, on Monday, told reporters that Ontario will put a 25 percent surcharge on electricity going to Michigan, New York, and Minnesota.

Ford then added, "If the United States escalates, I will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely. Believe me when I say I do not want to do this, I feel terrible for the American people, because it's not the American people who started this trade war. It's one person who's responsible. That's President Trump."

The spat is the latest development between the president and Canadian leaders on the subject of tariffs, which Trump has used as a tool to gain leverage in exchange for trade deal concessions as well as pressuring both Mexico and Canada to provide more security at their borders with the US.

Trump promised to implement a reciprocal tariff on April 2, which will charge a tax on imports to the US from a country that is using tariffs against US imports. US markets have been volatile in response to the back-and-forth tariff policies.