Trump calls Canada ‘Tariff Abuser’ amid electricity trade dispute with Ontario

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized Canada over its trade policies, calling the country a “tariff abuser” after Ontario imposed a 25 percent surcharge on electricity exports to three U.S. states.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced the surcharge on Monday, affecting Michigan, Minnesota, and New York, which rely on Ontario’s power supply for about 1.5 million homes and businesses. Ford stated that the measure was a response to Trump’s tariff policies, which have targeted Canadian imports, including energy resources, steel, and aluminum.

Reacting to the development, Trump took to his Truth Social platform, declaring that the U.S. no longer needed Canada’s exports.

“Ontario just announced a 25% surcharge on ‘electricity,’ of all things,” Trump wrote. “Canada is a Tariff abuser, and always has been, but the United States is not going to be subsidizing Canada any longer. 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.”

Trump reaffirmed his plan to implement “reciprocal” tariffs on all countries starting April 2, claiming the U.S. would recover its trade losses through these measures.

Meanwhile, Ford stood firm on Ontario’s decision, stating that as long as Trump’s tariffs remain in place, Ontario will continue its countermeasures.

“Until the threat of tariffs is gone for good, Ontario will not relent,” Ford said at a press conference. “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.”

He warned that if the U.S. escalates the trade war, Ontario might consider cutting off electricity exports completely.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also criticized the impact of Trump’s trade policies, blaming them for increased electricity bills.

“Minnesotans struggling to pay their skyrocketing electric bill are the first victims of Trump’s trade war,” Walz posted on X. “Minnesota cannot afford Trump’s billionaire-run economy. We have to put a stop to this madness.”