Former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Canada on Monday, calling it a “tariff abuser” and asserting that the United States did not need Canadian energy.
His remarks came after Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, announced a 25 percent surcharge on electricity exports to Michigan, Minnesota, and New York, which together rely on Ontario’s power supply for 1.5 million homes and businesses.
“Ontario just announced a 25% surcharge on ‘electricity,’ of all things,” Trump stated, claiming the province was “not even allowed to do that.” He further accused Canada of longstanding tariff abuses and declared that the U.S. would no longer “subsidize” its northern neighbor. His comments were posted on his Truth Social platform.
“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,” former U.S. President Donald Trump declared, intensifying his criticism of Canada’s trade policies.
In an effort to address what he describes as unfair trade imbalances, Trump has vowed to impose “reciprocal” tariffs on all countries starting April 2. He appeared to reaffirm this plan in a post on Truth Social, stating, “Because our Tariffs are reciprocal, we’ll just get it all back on April 2.”
Throughout his tenure, Trump has frequently floated the idea of annexing Canada while upending bilateral trade—the foundation of the Canadian economy—through unpredictable tariff measures. Last Tuesday, he allowed 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports to take effect, only to announce certain exemptions two days later.
Despite these adjustments, approximately 62 percent of Canadian imports remain subject to the new tariffs, though many energy resources face a lower rate of 10 percent.
Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports are set to take effect on Wednesday, impacting Canada as well.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded on Monday, vowing that the province would not back down until the tariff threat was permanently lifted.
“Pausing some tariffs, making last-minute exemptions—it won’t cut it. We need to end the chaos once and for all. We need to sit down, work together, and land a fair deal,” Ford said at a news conference.
“Until then, Ontario will keep up the fight,” he added. “That’s why today we’re moving forward with a 25 percent surcharge on electricity exports” to Minnesota, Michigan, and New York.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated that the surcharge would add an average of $100 per month to residents’ electricity bills in the three affected U.S. states.
“Let me be clear: I will not hesitate to increase this charge. If necessary, if the United States escalates, I will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely,” Ford warned.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who ran as Kamala Harris’s running mate in the November election but lost to Trump, criticized the move on X.
“Minnesotans struggling to pay their skyrocketing electric bills are the first victims of Trump’s trade war,” Walz wrote. “Minnesota cannot afford Trump’s billionaire-run economy. We have to put a stop to this madness.”
