Ontario Doug Ford Prime Minister is operating “Egregious” and “insult” with his threat to stop electricity for Americans over tariffs, the White House says.
Ontario Prime Minister Canada, Doug Ford, has agreed to suspend his extension of 25% of electricity exported to Michigan, Minnesota and New York.
Ford and US Secretary of Trade Howard Lutnick issued a joint statement on the issue on Tuesday, saying they both had a productive conversation about economic relations between the US and Canada.
“Secretary Lutnick agreed to officially meet with Prime Minister Ford in Washington Thursday, March 13, along with the United States Trade Representative, to discuss a renewed USMCA [United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement] Before the April 2 fee deadline, “Ford shared in a post on X.” In response, Ontario agreed to suspend his 25 percent addition of electricity exports to Michigan, New York and Minnesota. “
The deal came after President Donald Trump threatened to impose further tariffs in Canadian steel, aluminum, electricity and vehicles on Tuesday.
Trump threatens further tariffs in Canadian steel, aluminum, electricity, vehicles
Trump responded to Ford’s decision by changing a threat to double a 25% fee to 50% in Canadian and aluminum steel.
“After President Trump threatened to use his executive powers to avenge a 50 per cent colossal fee against Canada, Ontario Doug Ford Prime Minister Lutnick spoke to convey that he is withdrawing a 25 percent charge of electrical exports in the United States,” the White House spokesman said. “President Trump has once again used the lever of the American economy, which is the best and largest in the world to give a victory to the American people.”
However, Dessai added that Trump still plans to impose a 25% fee on steel and aluminum products, which will take effect for Canada and other midnight trade partners, March 12.
In response to Ontario by imposing a 25% fee of electricity coming to the US, Trump said he instructed Lutnick to add another 25% fee to all steel and aluminum coming to the United States from Canada. The new 50% tariff was scheduled to enter into force Wednesday morning.
Trump made the announcement of social truth, considering Canada “one of the highest tariff nations around the world.”
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Ontario Doug Ford prime minister gives remarks at a press conference at Queen’s Park on Monday in Toronto, Canada. Ford announced that the provincial government applied an additional 25% to all electricity exports to the United States as part of revenge (Katherine This Cheng / Getty Images / Getty Images)
Ford set a 25% tariff on electricity exports from Canadian province to US states of Michigan, New York and Minnesota on Monday.
Speaking in front of reporters in front of a podium that read “Canada is not for sale”, Ford said it would cost families and businesses in those countries up to $ 400,000 daily. On average, Ontario’s prime minister said he would add about $ 100 a month to “zealous American bills”.
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President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs in Canadian steel, aluminum, electricity and vehicles. (Andrew Harnik / Getty Images / Getty Images)
“Let me be clear: I will not hesitate to increase this fee,” Ford said at the time of notice. “If necessary, if the United States escalates, I will not hesitate to close electricity completely. Believe me when I say I do not want to do so. I feel terrible for the American people because it is not the American people who started this trade war. It is a person responsible. This is President Trump.”
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In a subsequent post on Tuesday, Trump asked, “Why would our country allow another country to supply us with electricity, even for a small area?” “Who made these decisions and why,” Trump added. “And can you imagine Canada by stopping so much as to use electricity, which affects the lives of innocent people, as a chip and threat to negotiation? They will pay a financial price for it as big as it will be read in history books for many years!”
Fox Business’ Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.