The prime minister of a major oil region in Canada is threatening to cut off exports of energy and crucial minerals to the US if that is the case President-elect Donald Trump implements a sweeping tariff on all Canadian products.
Trump recently threatened a 25% tariff on all Canadian and Mexican exports in an effort to stem the flow of exports illegal immigration and illegal drugs entering the US
Just days after Trump’s announcement, Doug Ford, the Premier of Ontariosaid he would consider retaliating against the US if the new president kept his promise.
“We’re going so far as to cut off their energy — to Michigan, to New York state and to Wisconsin,” Ford, who represents a region known for its crude oil production, told reporters.
TRUMP DESCRIBES TRUDEAU WITH NEW TITLE As He Continues To Push Tariffs: ‘GREAT STATE OF CANADA’
Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford listens during a press conference following the meeting of Canadian Prime Ministers in Toronto on Monday, December 2, 2019. (Cole Burston)
The prime minister added that other officials in the country are reportedly identifying ways they could hurt U.S. exports if Trump imposes a tariff.
“Some premiers proactively identified products that their provinces produce and export to the United States that the U.S. relies on that should be considered part of Canada’s response. This included some critical minerals and metals,” Ford said.
Canada was reportedly the largest source of U.S. energy imports in 2019, according to the Energy Information Administration.
President-elect Donald Trump threatened a 25% tariff on Canada. (Peter Kramer/NBC via Getty Images)
“Canadians are getting hurt, but I can assure you one thing: Americans will feel the pain too, and isn’t that a shame?” Ford said.
Ford is also reportedly considering banning the sale of American alcohol in Ontario.
However, Ford may not be able to unilaterally cut off the province’s energy supply to the US, according to a Canadian political science professor.
“I don’t believe Ontario could unilaterally stop electricity exports to the US without Ottawa’s approval. Likewise, Michigan cannot unilaterally stop the flow of Western Canadian natural gas to Eastern Canada without Washington’s approval,” said professor of politics sciences from the University of Toronto Nelson Wiseman at Now Toronto. in response to Ford’s threat of retaliation.
President-elect Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently met in Palm Beach, Florida. (Nicholas Kamm)
Trump responded to the threats, saying, “It’s OK if he does that.”
“The United States is subsidizing Canada, and we shouldn’t be doing that,” Trump told CNBC at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday. “And we have a great relationship. I have so many friends in Canada, but we shouldn’t be subsidizing a country.”
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After Trump threatened to impose tariffs on the country, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau traveled to West Palm Beach, Florida, to meet with the new president at Mar-a-Lago. Trump called it a “very productive meeting.”
