Incoming U.S. president Donald Trump is brushing off OntarioB次元官网网址檚 threat to restrict electricity exports in retaliation for sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods, as the province floats the idea of effectively barring sales of American alcohol.
On Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford said Ontario is contemplating restricting electricity exports to Michigan, New York state and Minnesota if Trump follows through on a threat to impose a 25 per cent tariff on imports from Canada.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 OK if he that does that. ThatB次元官网网址檚 fine,B次元官网网址� Trump told American network CNBC when asked Thursday about FordB次元官网网址檚 remarks on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
B次元官网网址淭he United States is subsidizing Canada and we shouldnB次元官网网址檛 have to do that,B次元官网网址� Trump added.
B次元官网网址淎nd we have a great relationship. I have so many friends in Canada, but we shouldnB次元官网网址檛 have to subsidize a country,B次元官网网址� he said, claiming this amounts to more than US$100 billion annually in unspecified subsidies.
Meanwhile, an official in the Ford government says itB次元官网网址檚 considering restricting the Liquor Control Board of Ontario from buying American-made alcohol. The province says the Crown agency is the largest purchaser of alcohol in the world.
The province also says it could restrict exports of Canadian critical minerals required for electric-vehicle batteries, and bar American companies from provincial procurement.
Ford doubled down Thursday on the idea of cutting off energy exports. The province says that in 2013, Ontario exported enough energy to power 1.5 million homes in those three states.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a last resort,B次元官网网址� Ford said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e sending a message to the U.S. (that if) you come and attack Ontario, you attack livelihoods of people in Ontario and Canadians, we are going to use every tool in our tool box to defend Ontarians and Canadians. LetB次元官网网址檚 hope it never comes to that.B次元官网网址�
Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lecce said the province would rather have co-operation with the U.S., but has mechanisms to B次元官网网址渆nd power sale into the U.S. marketB次元官网网址� the day Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith ruled out following suit.
B次元官网网址淯nder no circumstances will Alberta agree to cut off oil and gas exports,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淥ur approach is one of diplomacy, not threats.B次元官网网址�
Michael Sabia, president and CEO of Hydro-Qu茅bec, said B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 not our current intentionB次元官网网址� to cut off QuebecB次元官网网址檚 exports to Massachusetts or New York state, but he conceded it might be possible.
B次元官网网址淥ur intention is to respect those contracts, both because theyB次元官网网址檙e legally binding, but also because itB次元官网网址檚 part of, in our view, a sound relationship with the United States,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a questionable instrument to use in a trade conflict.B次元官网网址�
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew would not directly say whether Manitoba would threaten to withhold hydroelectric exports.
B次元官网网址淲e are preparing our list and starting to think through what those options should look like,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not going to make specific news today about items that weB次元官网网址檙e looking at.B次元官网网址�
Kinew added that some premiers felt retaliatory measures wouldnB次元官网网址檛 work in a call Trudeau held Wednesday.
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey said B次元官网网址渨e have no interest in stoppingB次元官网网址� the export of energy to the U.S., adding that a trade war would hurt both countries.
B次元官网网址淲e hope it is just bluster; weB次元官网网址檙e preparing as if it is not,B次元官网网址� he said.
Canada supplies more oil to the U.S. than any other country. About 60 per cent of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85 per cent of U.S. electricity imports as well.
Canada sold $170 billion worth of energy products last year to the U.S. It also has 34 critical minerals and metals the Pentagon is eager for.
Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tax on all products entering the United States from Canada and Mexico unless they stem the flow of migrants and drugs.
Canadian officials have said it is unfair to lump Canada in with Mexico.
U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border.
Canada since has promised more border security spending to address TrumpB次元官网网址檚 border concerns. Ford said that will include more border and police officers, as well as drones and sniffer dogs.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2024.
B次元官网网址� With files from The Associated Press, Liam Casey in Toronto, Lisa Johnson in Edmonton and Steve Lambert in Winnipeg.
Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press
