Ontario Premier Threatens to Cut Off U.S. Electricity Exports Amid Trump’s Trade War Escalation
In a bold escalation of tensions between Canada and the United States,
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has threatened to halt electricity exports to the U.S. “with a smile on my face” as President Donald Trump’s renewed trade war intensifies.
Ford’s remarks, made on March 3, 2025, come as Trump’s administration imposed a 25% tariff on Canadian goods effective March 4, 2025, prompting fierce retaliatory rhetoric from Canadian leaders.
The premier’s statement, widely reported across mainstream media, underscores the deepening economic rift between the two nations and highlights the critical role of energy in their interconnected economies.
Speaking at a mining convention in Toronto, Ford declared, “If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everything — including cut off their energy with a smile on my face,” according to the Toronto Sun.
He emphasized the leverage Ontario holds, stating, “They rely on our energy, they need to feel the pain. They want to come at us hard, we’re going to come back twice as hard.”
The New York Post echoed this sentiment, noting that Ford’s threat targets states like New York, Michigan, and Minnesota, which depend heavily on Ontario’s electricity exports.
In 2023, Ontario powered 1.5 million U.S. homes, making it a significant supplier to these border regions.
The backdrop to Ford’s warning is Trump’s decision to enact sweeping tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, fulfilling a campaign promise to address trade imbalances and border security issues.
The Associated Press reported that Trump announced the tariffs would take effect on March 4, 2025, after a 30-day delay expired, leaving no room for further negotiation.
Trump has tied the tariffs to demands for Canada and Mexico to curb the flow of migrants and drugs, particularly fentanyl, into the U.S., though Canadian officials argue their border poses minimal risk in this regard.
Ford’s threat has drawn significant attention due to Canada’s outsized role in U.S. energy imports. The Fox News report highlighted that Ontario’s electricity exports to the U.S. generated a record $5.8 billion in revenue in 2022, illustrating the economic stakes involved.
Meanwhile, CNN Business clarified that while Ford’s comments focus on electricity, Ontario is not a major oil producer, distinguishing his threat from broader energy retaliation involving oil-rich provinces like Alberta.
Analysts cited by CNN expressed skepticism about Canada cutting off oil exports, given their economic reliance on the U.S. market, but Ford’s electricity gambit could still disrupt power supplies in key American states.
Not all Canadian leaders align with Ford’s aggressive stance.
The Associated Press noted that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who oversees Canada’s oil-rich province, rejected the idea of halting energy shipments, favoring diplomacy over retaliation.
Smith, speaking on January 13, 2025, argued, “You should never, ever threaten something you cannot do,” signaling a divide among provincial leaders.
This regional tension was further explored by Politico, which reported on January 15, 2025, that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned “everything is on the table,” though he faces challenges unifying premiers on a cohesive response.
The Guardian contextualized Ford’s threat within the broader trade war, noting that Ontario’s economy—85% of whose exports go to the U.S.—is particularly vulnerable to Trump’s tariffs.
Ford’s rhetoric aims to pressure U.S. state governors and highlight the mutual dependency of North American economies.
However, the outlet questioned how much authority Ford has to enact such a policy, as international energy decisions typically fall to Canada’s federal government.
Trump’s tariffs have already sparked retaliatory measures from Canada.
The New York Post reported that Canada plans to impose tariffs on $155 billion worth of U.S. goods, including alcohol and fruit, in response.
This tit-for-tat escalation has raised fears of a full-blown trade war, with Politico warning on March 3, 2025, that such measures could push Canada into a recession by mid-year while increasing costs for American consumers.
The Hill quoted Ford doubling down on his pledge to match tariffs “dollar-for-dollar,” signaling a united front with the federal government despite internal disagreements.
As of March 4, 2025, the situation remains fluid.
The Toronto Sun reported Ford’s confidence in Canada’s ability to prevail, with the premier asserting, “I didn’t start this tariff war, but we’re going to win this tariff war.”
Yet, the economic fallout on both sides of the border looms large. Economists cited by the Associated Press predict that Trump’s tariffs will raise prices for U.S. consumers on essentials like food, clothing, and automobiles, while Canada faces “absolutely devastating” consequences, as Trudeau warned earlier this week.
Ford’s provocative stance has amplified the stakes in this trade dispute, casting a spotlight on the fragility of Canada-U.S. relations.
Whether his threat to cut off electricity exports materializes—or proves to be a negotiating tactic—remains uncertain, but it has undeniably intensified the rhetoric in an already heated conflict.
As reported across Fox News, CNN, AP, and other outlets, the coming weeks will test the resilience of this decades-old partnership, with energy emerging as a pivotal battleground.
