Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared his intention to block energy exports as a response to the U.S. tariffs on Canadian products while intensifying the existing trade conflict. President Donald Trump declared on Monday that tariffs against Canada, Mexico, and China would begin on Tuesday while setting Canadian products to pay a 25% duty, except for energy products, which will bear a 10% duty.
At a mining convention, Ford declared that Canada would prevail in the tariff war because of its powerful energy export position. The U.S. Energy Information Administration shows Canada provides 59% of the total crude oil imports for the United States, which establishes it as a vital energy alliance. Ford declared that Ontario would respond to any attempt to destroy the province by cutting off energy exports while maintaining a cheerful expression.
The power restrictions from Canada would affect New York, Michigan, and Minnesota because these states depend on Canadian energy supplies. In an NBC interview, Ford emphasized that Canadian energy supplies power to 1.5 million residential homes and production facilities.
The tariffs emerged from Trump’s worries about illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking because he believes Canada and Mexico have not managed to stop drugs and undocumented immigrants from entering the United States. The federal data indicates that U.S. law enforcement made 0.2% of their fentanyl seizures at the Canadian border during 2024, while 96.6% of seizures happened at the Mexican border.
Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly declared $155 billion in retaliatory tariffs, starting with a $30 billion initial release. The restriction of energy exports will probably not result in power failures, but it will likely increase electricity rates and create additional inflationary pressure. The ongoing dispute creates economic worries for both border regions because business organizations will probably force their governments to find a settlement.